The Conference of INGOs is celebrating World NGO Day on 27 February with the holding of a debate on “Why do we need NGOs? – (I)NGO contribution to the work and to the mandate of the Council of Europe”.

Invited panellists and participants will highlight the invaluable contribution of (I)NGOS to the Council of Europe’s work be it in standard setting, monitoring or co-operation activities. They will also look at the cost to (I)NGOs, and their members, of working for human rights, democracy and the rule of law in a context of democratic decline. The final panel will focus on a Conference of INGOs message to the Committee of Ministers about future perspectives for (I)NGO participation in the Council of Europe.