Back European Convention on the Recognition of the Legal Personality of International Non-Governmental Organisations

Adopted on: 24 April 1986

This Convention, in its preamble, recognises the role and work of international non-governmental organisations. It applies to associations, foundations and other private institutions (referred as NGOs) that fulfil the following criteria: have a non-profit-making aim of international utility; have been established by an instrument governed by the internal law of a state; carry on their activities with effect in at least two states; and have their statutory office in the territory of a state having ratified the Convention and the central management and control in the territory of that state or of another state. According to the Convention, these are the criteria for the organisations to be called international NGOs. The Convention consist of 11 Articles, in which Articles 1 to 4 describe the principles related to the recognition of the legal personality of international NGOs and the remaining articles are more of a procedural character. Paragraph 1 of Article 2 lays down the rule of recognition as of right in all contracting states of the legal personality and capacity acquired in one contracting state. Consequently, no special procedure has to be followed to obtain recognition of legal personality. As of 10 September 2018, 12 countries had ratified the Convention.

Youth specific: No

Link to source

Reference number: ETS No.124 Adopted by: Council of Europe
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page

Council of Europe institution
CDDG
Commissioner for Human Rights
Committee of Ministers
Conference INGOS
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
ODIHR
Parliamentary Assembly
Secretary General
Venice Commission
Level
Local level
Regional level
Theme
Access to Rights
Children
Citizenship
Civil participation
Decision making
Democracy
Education for Democratic Citizenship
Foreign funded NGO
Freedom of Assembly
Freedom of Association
Gender identity
Good practice
Human rights
Human rights defenders
Human Rights Education
Human Rights Organisations
INGO
Internet
Legal Personality
LGBT
Local level
NGOs
Non-formal education
Participation
Regional level
Restrictions
Sexual orientation
Shrinking space
Social rights
Standards
Whistleblowers
Youth
Youth Council
Youth organisations
Youth work
Type of document
Charter
Code
Comment
Compendium
Convention
Decision
Declaration
Explanatory memorandum
Guide
Guidelines
Opinion
Recommendation
Report
Resolution
Review
Treaty
Reset Filter