On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus the Council of Europe has released a video on the Contact Group on Belarus. The Congress is an active member of the Contact Group and implements activities aimed at promoting democratic values in line with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
Congress support for Belarusian democratic forces
The Congress, as an active member of the Contact Group on Cooperation with Belarusian Democratic Forces and Civil Society, implements activities aimed at promoting democratic values in line with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. A specific focus is placed on the key role of local authorities to promote and uphold human rights, and engage with women, youth, and under-represented groups.
In November 2023, the Congress gathered in Strasbourg a group of activists from diverse political affiliations, carefully selected with representatives of the Contact Group on Cooperation with Belarusian Democratic Forces and Civil Society, for a first peer exchange on the principles and standards needed to establish an efficient local self-government system.
The Congress has been entrusted to implement activities in 2024–2025 focusing on political support to the Belarusian democratic forces and on the provision of capacity development and expertise to support the preparation of reforms and related legislation on local democracy, good governance and decentralisation of power, based on the principles enshrined in the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
In January 2024, Congress members attended the Helsinki Dialogue, and in March 2024, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the Congress at its 46th plenary session.
In late 2024, Congress experts reviewed the “Local Self-Government Concept for a New Belarus” prepared by the Belarusian democratic forces and organised a series of online workshops to discuss about concepts and principles of local self-government, dimensions of decentralisation, and transition stages toward a free and democratic Belarus.
In March 2025, a representative group of the Belarusian democratic forces participated for the first time in history in the Congress session, following a decision of the Congress Bureau to invite such delegation to participate in the work of the Congress sessions and statutory committees, as part of its support for local democracy and self-government in a free and democratic Belarus.
In April 2025, the Congress brought together some 25 representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society, members of the Congress, and experts in Strasbourg for the second edition of the workshop “Leaders for change: promoting democracy and human rights at local level”. Through an interactive programme combining learning experiences and peer exchanges, participants discussed topical issues related to good governance, local democracy, and human rights at local level.
Find out more about the activities of the Council of Europe with the Contact Group on Belarus
New video about the Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus
Strasbourg, France
23 May 2025
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Congress concludes series of workshops to support future democratic local governance in Belarus
Congress Rapporteur for a Democratic Belarus meets Belarusian democratic forces and civil society in Poland
Side event of the Congress session: Panel discussion with Belarus Democratic Forces
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4 Предметов на странице
Expert analyses and guidance
- Expert analysis of the “Local Self-Government Concept for a New Belarus”, 7 December 2025, CEMG/EXA(2025)3
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Expert analysis of the draft Law on Local Self-Government and relevant provisions of the draft Constitution, 6 December 2025, CEMG/EXA(2025)4
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When passports become weapons: Local authorities’ response to transnational repression against Belarusians abroad
Explainer / Q&A: Supporting Belarusian Residents
Policy brief for local and regional leaders
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Glossary of local self-government terminology