Consultative status to be granted to international non-governmental organisations

Strasbourg, Restricted

CM(92)143

[Doc. ]

COMMUNICATION FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL

on consultative status to be granted

to international non-governmental organisations

1. In accordance with paragraph 9 of Resolution (72) 35 of the Committee of Ministers1, the Secretary General has the honour to communicate to the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly her proposals concerning international non-governmental organisations to be added to the list of organisations enjoying consultative status with the Council of Europe.

The organisations it is proposed to add to the list (for relevant particulars see Appendix) are as follows:

1. "Association des États Généraux des Étudiants d'Europe" (AEGEE-Europe)

2. International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (INTERIGHTS)

3. European College of Surgeons (ECS)

4. European Conference of Music (CEM)

5. European Council on African Studies (ECAS)

6. European Bars Federation

7. European Federation of Community Radios (FERL)

8. International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres (IFS)

9. International Federation of Disabled Workers and Civilian Handicapped (FIMITIC)

10. International Planned Parenthood Federation - Europe Region (IPPF Europe Region)

11. European Movement

12. Penal Reform International (PRI)

13. "Reporters sans Frontières"

14. European Secretariat for Scientific Publications (SEPS)

15. World ORT Union

The criteria set out in Resolution (72) 35 have been taken by the Secretary General as a basis in formulating these proposals. According to paragraph 2 of the Resolution in order to be eligible organisations must be "particularly representative in the field of their competence and by their work in a given sector ... capable of contributing to the achievement of that closer unity mentioned in Article 1 of the Statute as the assigned aim of the member States".

Further, the Secretary General has considered whether the organisations are really able to fulfil the obligations which they undertake under paragraph 3 of the Resolution. In accordance with paragraph 7, each organisation has also submitted a declaration to the effect that it accepts the principles set out in the Preamble and Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe.

The Secretary General has also examined the statutes, list of member organisations and reports on the activities of each applicant organisation in order to ascertain their compatibility with those principles.

Lastly, the Secretary General has taken into account the decisions reached in the Committee of Ministers concerning relations in general between the Council of Europe and the NGOs under consultative status.

2. Unless apparent in the circumstances set out in paragraph 10 of Resolution (72) 352 the Secretary General's proposals will be regarded as decisions of the Committee of Ministers at the end of a period of six months following the date of this document.

A P P E N D I X

INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED

FOR INCLUSION IN THE LIST OF NGOs ENJOYING

CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

"ASSOCIATION DES ÉTATS GÉNÉRAUX

DES ÉTUDIANTS D'EUROPE"

(AEGEE-Europe)

1. Application for consultative status: 24 June 1991

2. Founded: 1985

3. Headquarters: Delft (the Netherlands)

4. Aims: To promote the European idea among young people in the European Community and in Europe generally, in particular through student life

5. Structure:

A. Membership:

i. ordinary members: (local) associations which have signed the AEGEE agreement;

ii. benefactors ("supporting members"): persons who have rendered financial service to the AEGEE or services recognised as such by the Steering Committee;

iii. honorary members: persons who have rendered outstanding services to the AEGEE

B. Organs:

i. Agoras (ordinary and extraordinary): elected representatives of local member associations plus members of the Steering Committee; the Agora meets once a year; approves the Steering Committee's management;

ii. Steering Committee("Board of Directors"): 16 members of local AEGEE associations - the President and 15 active members elected by the Agora; has wide-ranging powers to act on behalf of the AEGEE and to authorise any action which is line with the AEGEE aims; meets at least every four months;

iii. Presidents' Meeting: assists with internal organisation of the network;

iv. Committees (legal, financial);

v. Board of Trustees

6. Activities:

- conferences and seminars

- publications (AEGEE Scope)

- working parties and projects

. East-West

. Moot court (European-law competition in two languages)

. environment

. ERASMUS

. summer university

7. Representation:

Members in: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, (ex-USSR), the United Kingdom, (ex-Yugoslavia)

8. Personalities:

President : Mr G von GABLENTZ (Germany)

Secretary General: Mr O DREWES (Netherlands)

Treasurer : Mr M HINNAH (Germany)

Vice-Presidents : Ms C ALVAREZ (Spain)

Ms C DONADIO (Italy)

Mr M MERKER (Germany)

9. Finance:

- membership fees

- revenue from assets

- subsidies

- reimbursement of expenses

- revenue from research contracts

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

As the "Association des États Généraux des Etudiants d'Europe" (AEGEE-Europe) is representative within its sphere at European level and could make a contribution to the Council of Europe's work, the Secretary General recommends that it be granted consultative status.

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

FOR THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

(INTERIGHTS)

1. Application for consultative status : 10 June 1991

2. Founded : 1985

3. Headquarters : London

4. Aims :

- to promote and secure the protection of human rights through the active enforcement of international human rights law

5. Structure :

A. Membership : The subscribers to the memorandum of association and such other persons as the directors admit to membership shall be members of the company.

According to Article 2 of its statute (Articles of association) the number of members with which the company proposes to be registered is 11 but the directors may, from time to time, register an increase of members.

B. Organs :

i. General Meetings : The company holds an annual general meeting in addition to any other meetings (extraordinary general meetings)

ii. Directors : The company's business is managed by the directors (the number of directors shall be 9)

6. Activities :

- Legal activities :

. advising individuals on legal rights and remedies under international human rights law;

. assisting lawyers with preparation of international legal aspects of cases;

. providing legal representation in selected cases;

. filing amicus curiae briefs before international fora such as the European Court of Human Rights;

. maintaining an international network of lawyers willing to assist in the protection of international human rights;

- Educational activities :

. conducting conferences, seminars and workshops on international human rights law and practice for legal practitioners and law students;

. training interns in international human rights law and practice;

. maintaining a specialised reference library in international human rights law;

- Publications

. quarterly bulletin

. occasional reports on substantive areas of international human rights law and practice

7. Representation :

Members of Advisory Council from : France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

8. Personalities :

Chairman : Mr A. LESTER (United Kingdom)

Treasurer : Mr J. McBRIDE (United Kingdom)

9. Finance :

Funds from the ford Foundation, the London Boroughs Grants Scheme, the Nuffield Foundation, British Overseas Development Agency, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Danish International Development Agency.

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

This organisation fulfils the necessary conditions for the grant of consultative status. It can be considered as sufficiently representative at the European level. The Council of Europe has already established working relations with INTERIGHTS which proved to be useful for the Council's activities mainly in the field of human rights. It appears also that, as for the future relations, INTERIGHTS could make a useful contribution to the work of the Council of Europe.

For these reasons, the Secretary General recommends that consultative status be granted to the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (INTERIGHTS).

EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS (ECS)

1. Application for consultative status: 13 March 1992

2. Founded : 1990

3. Headquarters: Strasbourg

4. Aims:

- to promote concerted practical measures in the fields of surgical training, and research and the application and of research;

- to establish a European network of education, co-operation and information in the field of surgery

5. Structure :

A. Membership:

i. representatives appointed by national surgical associations;

ii. individual members practising or having practised the profession of surgeon in a European country;

iii. benefactor members;

iv. honorary members

B. Organs :

i. Board of Management: the College is administered by a Board of Management comprising one representative for each European member country; the board meets at least once a year;

ii. General meeting: this comprises the members who have paid their subscriptions for the current year and meets once a year, usually in Strasbourg

6. Activities :

- Postgraduate European courses :

. European courses on organ transplantation (1988, 1989 and 1991)

. courses on surgical endoscopy (1989 and 1991)

. courses on laparosurgery and viscerosynthesis (1990 and 1991)

. course on emergency surgery (1991)

- European surgical exchanges

- overtures to contact Central and Eastern Europe

7. Representation :

Members (official delegates) in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom

8. Personalities :

President : Prof. M N van der HEYDE (Netherlands)

Vice-President : Prof. E H FARTHMANN (Germany)

Secretary General : Prof. L F HOLLENDER (France)

Treasurer : Prof. A MARSTEN (United Kingdom)

9. Finance :

- revenue from assets

- membership fees

- subsidies

- donations

- exceptional resources

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General:

The European College of Surgeons was set up to maintain close relations with the Council of Europe, having originated in the Committee on the Standardisation of Surgical Training in Europe, which was set up at the Council of Europe's instigation. It is particularly representative at European level and is capable of making a valuable contribution to the Council's work.

The Secretary General accordingly recommends that it be granted consultative status.

EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MUSIC (CEM)

1. Application for consultative status: 24 March 1992

2. Founded : 1990

3. Headquarters : Paris

4. Aims :

To be a forum for consultation, discussion and proposal, operate as a centre - available to everyone involved in European music - for promoting musical activity in Europe, and to promote the implementation of Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948, which states: "Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits"

5. Structure :

A. Membership:

i. automatic members : founder members of the CEM, presidents of national music councils, representatives of arts ministries (in European Community states);

ii. active members: national music committees and similar bodies (in European Community states);

iii. associate members: music associations and institutions in European countries;

iv. honorary members: prominent musical figures actively supporting the CEM

B. Organs :

i. Annual General Meeting: all members; the CEM's governing body; meets once a year;

ii. Executive Office: 15 members elected by the Annual General Meeting; applies the guidelines laid down by the AGM and decides how activities should be carried out; meets twice a year;

iii. Advisory Council;

iv. permanent secretariat

6. Activities :

- seminars

- European music conferences

7. Representation :

Members in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom

8. Personalities :

President : Mr A FAIRBAIRN (United Kingdom)

Vice-Presidents : Mr F EGERLAND-HANSEN (Denmark)

Mr P WEHRLE (Germany)

Secretary General: Mr D MOREAU (France)

Treasurer : Mr J PAPAIOANNOU (Greece)

9. Finance :

- membership fees

- subsidies

- donations and authorised resources

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

The European Conference of Music is adequately representative and is able to make a valuable contribution to the work of the Council of Europe, which already has some working relations with it. In addition, the Secretary General has given her patronage to the first European Music Conference, which the CEM is holding in Strasbourg on 15-17 October 1992.

The Secretary General accordingly recommends that the European Conference of Music be granted consultative status.

EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON AFRICAN STUDIES (ECAS)

1. Application for consultative status : 25 July 1991

2. Founded : 1983

3. Headquarters : Strasbourg (Secretariat of the Executive)

4. Aims :

- to encourage exchanges between European and African institutions, both of individuals and in the form of joint research and publication;

- to make government and, through the media and teaching, the public more aware of African studies;

- to define, defend and help the community of African -studies specialists in Europe and to support academic research in the human and social sciences as applied to Africa;

- to bring to the fore the essential link between fundamental research and development co-operation, and to emphasis the importance of Africanists' research to a better understanding between Africans and non-Africans;

- to develop university teaching on Africa and the training of research workers;

- to help African students gain access to European training and research institutions without harming African institutions;

- to organise co-operation and mutual aid between European and non-European Africanists;

- to speed up the scientific collection of data of all kinds, giving priority to the data under greatest threat;

- to develop both in Africa and Europe the dissemination of research findings, in particular through programs publication and translation and by ensuring the survival of existing specialist collections and journals;

- to maintain existing documentary resources and promote the setting up of computerised networks

5. Structure :

A. Membership : open to :

- national committees for African studies in European countries;

- national and international institutions whose work is similar to that of national committees;

- Africanists in European countries where there are no national committees;

- persons or institutions who are benefactors of ECAS;

- co-optees (persons or institutions)

B. Organs :

i. General Assembly: composed of members' delegates; the supreme ECAS body; meets in ordinary session every four years;

ii. Standing Committee: composed of delegates of national committees and international member institutions; overseas the work of all ECAS bodies; takes any important decisions falling to be taken between meetings of the General Assembly; meets once a year;

iii. Executive: composed of the President, the three Vice-Presidents, the Executive Secretary and the Secretary General; implements and sees to the implementation of general ECAS policy; meets at least twice a year

6. Activities :

- seminars and conferences

- publications

7. Representation :

Members in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Switzerland

8. Personalities :

President : Mr A. COUPEZ (Belgium)

Executive Secretary: Mr J.-P. BLANCK (France)

Secretary General : Mr G. CLARENCE-SMITH (United Kingdom)

9. Finance :

- membership fees

- proceeds from statutory activities

- subsidies, donations, bequests

- contracts

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

From the application file it is clear that the European Council on African Studies (ECAS) meets the requirements for grant of consultative status. It is adequately representative at European level and the Secretariat's contact with it has shown its work and thinking as regards relations and co-operation with the South, to be in keeping with the Council of Europe's North-South Campaign and the work by the Lisbon Centre.

The Secretary General accordingly recommends that it be granted consultative status.

EUROPEAN BARS FEDERATION

1. Application for consultative status : 22 July 1992

2. Founded: 1992 (the Federation is in fact and in law the successor to the "Conférence des Grands Barreaux d'Europe" (which was established in 1986)

3. Headquarters : Strasbourg

4. Aims :

-       to create common structures for all European bar associations;

-       to achieve harmonisation in the fields of barrister training and professional ethics;

-       to harmonise professional practices;

-       to defend the profession of barrister and ensure its political, judicial and economic independence;

-       to defend the role of the profession in Europe;

-       to facilitate exchanges, especially among young barristers;

-       to represent the profession of barrister vis-à-vis governmental and other institutions.

5. Structure :

A. Membership: the bar associations of the member States of the Council of Europe may become members (the Federation includes all bar associations which are already members of the "Conférence des Grands Barreaux d'Europe")

Bar associations of countries which are not members of the Council of Europe may be admitted as observers.

B. Organs :

i. Assembly: comprising all the bar associations that are members of the Federation; meets at least once a year; adopts major resolutions laying down guidelines for the Federation's activities;

ii. Federal Council: consisting of three members for each country represented in the Federation; appoints the President and any committees or other subsidiary bodies; monitors the implementation of Assembly decisions; meets at least twice a year.

iii. Secretariat

6. Activities :

- reports and resolutions (on publicity, public information, practising outside the home country)

- convention on the international exchange of trainees and young barristers

- working links with the Council of Europe.

7. Representation :

Member bar associations in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom

8. Personalities :

President : Mr E GAY MONTALVO (Spain)

President designate: Mr G FLECHEUX (France)

Vice-Presidents :       Mr K SCHMALZ       (Germany)

Mr C KING-FARLOW       (United Kingdom)

Secretary General :       Mr M RUBINO-SAMMARTANO       (Italy)

9. Finance :

Contributions of member bar associations

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

As this is an organisation performing representative functions at the European level, and given the contribution which it could make to the work of the Council of Europe, the Secretary General recommends that consultative status be granted to the European Bars Federation.

EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF COMMUNITY RADIOS

(FERL)

1. Application for consultative status : 24 April 1992

2. Founded : 1986

3. Headquarters : Forcalquier (France)

4. Aims :

- promotion, co-ordination and defence of independent, democratic and participatory radio stations which are committed to establishing practical alternative forms of communication

5. Structure :

A. Membership:

i. active members: any corporate body or federation of corporate bodies whose objective is non-profit-making radio broadcasting;

ii. associate members: individuals or corporate bodies whose activities assist the achievement of the federation's aims;

iii. honorary members: individuals or corporate bodies whose activities assist the achievement of the federation's aims

B. Organs :

i. General Meeting: the federation's supreme body; composed of all active and associate members; meets at least once a year;

ii. Executive Committee: runs the federation; composed of at least seven members elected by the General Meeting; implements all decisions taken by the General Meeting

6. Activities :

- Congress (the 3rd Congress was held under the patronage of Mrs Catherine Lalumière)

- publications

- committees

. Legal Committee

. Europe Committee

. Technical Committee

- production, dissemination and exchange of radio broadcasts

- training courses

- working relations with the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

7. Representation :

Members in: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, the United States of America, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, the United Kingdom, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine

8. Personalities :

President : Mr G. GORRET (France - Italy)

Vice-President : Mr A. ZAIATS (Ukraine)

Secretary : Mrs B. BUSCH-WINDHAG (Austria)

9. Finance :

- membership fees

- gifts

- subsidies

- proceeds from the federation's various activities

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

It is evident from the application that the European Federation of Community Radios meets the requirements for grant of consultative status. Since its first application in 1987, it has greatly developed its representation and activities. It has also established active working relations with the Parliamentary Assembly. Clearly it is able to make a valuable contribution to the Council of Europe's work in its field.

The Secretary General accordingly recommends that it be granted consultative status.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SETTLEMENTS

AND NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRES

(IFS)

1. Application for consultative status : 14 May 1991

2. Founded : 1926

3. Headquarters : Birmingham (Secretariat)

4. Aims :

- to help end racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different ethnic origins;

- to promote education of the public by whatever means the Administrative Council deems appropriate;

- to help and support the poor, old, infirm or otherwise disabled;

- to provide welfare and social facilities for young people so as to improve their lives physically, mentally and spiritually and thereby enable them to be fulfilled individuals and fully participant members of society

5. Structure :

A. Membership :

i. full members: national, regional and county federations of settlements and neighbourhood centres or similar bodies;

ii. single-centre membership: settlements or neighbourhood centres which do not belong to a national or regional body;

iii. individual members

B. Organs :

i. Administrative Council: has full authority to take action appropriate to achieving the federation's aims; is composed of members' representatives; meets at least every two years;

ii. Executive Committee: implements general policy as laid down by the Administrative Council; is composed of four members elected by the Administrative Council, honorary members elected by the Administrative Council, honorary members elected ex officio and up to two co-opted members; meets at least twice a year

6. Activities :

- conferences and seminars;

- projects and research, in particular on immigrant and refugee matters;

- Eurogroup

7. Representation :

Members in Europe and America (including Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom)

8. Personalities :

President : Mr R.B. GWILLIAM (Canada)

Secretary General: Mr C. KUNZ

9. Finance :

- membership fees;

- gifts, bequests, state subsidies, loans and other resources

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General:

It appears from examination of the file on the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres (IFS) that this NGO meets the conditions for granting consultative status. On the one hand, it is sufficiently representative at European level, and on the other hand, it can make a useful contribution by its activities to the work of the Council of Europe. Moreover, the working relations already established with the Secretariat of the Council of Europe by the "IFS" have given the Secretariat departments a favourable impression of the reliable and serious nature of this organisation.

For these reasons the Secretary General recommends that consultative status be granted to the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF DISABLED WORKERS

AND CIVILIAN HANDICAPPED

(FIMITIC)

1. Application for consultative status : 12 November 1991

2. Founded : 1953

3. Headquarters : seat of the national organisation of the President (at the present Bonn)

4. Aims :

- to strive for the improvement of the welfare as well as occupational and social conditions of all disabled workmen and civilian handicapped

5. Structure :

A. Membership : in principle, one association of the disabled workmen and civilian handicapped from each country belongs to FIMITIC.

B. Organs :

i. Delegates' Conference : meets every four years; draws guidelines for FIMITIC's activities;

ii. Presidential Conference : comprises a representative from each national association; acquaints itself with the work of the Executive Board; serves as the forum for all national associations; meets at least once a year;

iii. Executive Board : comprises 7-9 members elected by the Delegates' Conference; works towards the realisation of the aims of the FIMITIC; deals with day-to-day business.

6. Activities :

- Congresses, seminars

. 1986 on the Elimination of Architectural Obstacles

. 1988 on the Sheltered Workshops for the Disables

. 1990 on the Living Possibilities and Service for the Disabled - a new quality of life

- Appeals, Resolutions

- Social Policy Programme

- Working relations with other international institutions (ILO, WHO, UNESCO, European Community, consultative status with ECOSOC, etc)

- Publications

7. Representation :

Members in : Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland

8. Personalities :

President : Mr A. CAMINADA (Liechtenstein)

Vice-Presidents : Mr A. LAMBRILLI (Italy)

Mr H. SCHULZ (Germany)

Secretary General : Ms M. STIGLIL (Germany)

9. Finance :

- membership subscriptions

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

It appears from the examination of the file of FIMITIC that this organisation meets the required conditions for the grant of consultative status. It is particularly representative at the European level and could make a useful contribution to the work of the Council of Europe.

For these reasons, the Secretary General recommends that consultative status be granted to the International Federation of Disabled Workers and Civilian Handicapped.

INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION

- EUROPE REGION

(IPPF Europe Region)

1. Application for consultative status : 18 April 1991

2. Founded : 1952

3. Headquarters : London (Secretariat)

4. Aims :

- to advance the education of the countries of Europe in responsible planned parenthood in the interest of individual and family welfare, community well-being and international goodwill;

- to stimulate appropriate scientific research in the following subjects : the biological, psychological, social, economic and demographic implications of human fertility and its regulation, sex education and marriage counselling;

- to collect and make known the findings of such research.

5. Structure :

A. Membership : planned parenthood associations in European countries.

B. Organs :

i. Regional Council:consists of representations of member organisations; determines the policy of the Region (Europe);

ii. Executive Committee : directs the management of the business, funds, property and affairs of the Region (Europe).

6. Activities :

- working relations with WHO Europe and UNFPA

- training of teachers in sex education

- development of curricula for sex education

- advocacy through the media for the improvement of services

- increasing awareness of population issues

- promotion of family planning through education

- education against AIDS

- networking with other NGOs for the promotion of family health

- counselling for young people

- participation in national AIDS Committees

- development of family planning services (in Eastern Europe)

- publications

7. Representation :

Member associations in the following member states of the Council of Europe : Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom

8. Personalities :

Regional Director : Ms L. THOMAS (United Kingdom)

9. Finance :

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

It appears from the examination of the file of IPPF-Europe Region that this organisation is particularly representative at the European level and could make a useful contribution to the work of the Council of Europe.

For these reasons, the Secretary General recommends that consultative status be granted to the International Planned Parenthood Federation-Europe Region.

EUROPEAN MOVEMENT

1. Application for consultative status: 17 February 1992

2. Founded: 1948

3. Headquarters: Brussels

4. Aims :

- to help realise a democratic United States of America of Europe;

- other aims as laid down, on the basis of the Appeal to Europeans of the 1948 Congress of Europe, in appeals, declarations and resolutions of its congresses

5. Structure:

A. Membership:

i. full members: national councils, international organisations and parliamentary councils;

ii. associate members: national committees and international and national organisations;

iii. individual members: individuals pursuing the same aims as the movement

B. Organs :

i. General Assembly (known as the Federal Council): has full powers to take or endorse any relevant measures; meets at least once a year;

ii. Executive Committee: the movement is represented and managed by an Executive Committee with at least 15 members (the President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer and 12 or more vice-presidents) elected by the Federal Council; it meets whenever circumstances require;

iii. General Conference: meets at least once a year; is composed of presidents and secretaries general of full or associate members and members of the Executive Committee

6. Activities:

- congresses, conferences, seminars, etc;

- publications, with the aim of playing an influential role and winning European-level, government and public support for European integration

7. Representation :

In all Council of Europe member countries

8. Personalities :

President : Mr V. GISCARD D'ESTAING (France)

Honorary Presidents : MM E. BARON CRESPO (Spain)

G. BERTHOIN (France)

M. FAURE (France)

G. PETRILLI (Italy)

G. THORN (Luxembourg)

Secretary General : B. MOLENAAR (Netherlands)

9. Finance :

- membership fees

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

In view of the especially close working relationship there has always been between the Council of Europe and the European Movement and since the two organisations share the same aims as regards European integration, the Secretary General recommends that the European Movement be granted consultative status.

Consultative status would undoubtedly make for continuity and enable the two organisations to keep in closer touch with each other's work.

PENAL REFORM INTERNATIONAL

(PRI)

1. Application for consultative status : 21 August 1991

2. Founded : 1989

3. Headquarters : Groningen (the Netherlands)

4. Aims : to achieve penal reform recognising diverse cultural contexts by promoting :

- the development of implementation of the international human rights instruments with regard to law enforcement, prison conditions and standards,

- the elimination of unfair and unethical discrimination in all penal measures,

- the abolition of death penalty,

- the reduction of the use of imprisonment throughout the world,

- the use of constructive non-custodial sanctions which encourage social re-integration whilst taking account of the interests of victims,

- everything connected with the foregoing or favourable to them in the broadest sense of the word.

5. Structure :

A. Membership : is open to non-governmental prison reform organisations and individual committees to prison reform. The association can also have honorary members.

B. Organs :

i. General Meeting: sets the policy for the association; meets once a year;

ii. Board: PRI is run by a Board consisting of at least nine persons elected from and by the members of the General meeting; meets once a year and as often as the chairperson or at least one third of the Board members consider it desirable.

6. Activities :

- contacts and working relations with various intergovernmental organisations as well as NGOs (observer status with the CDPC)

- seminars

- publications

- monitoring of international instruments covering prison conditions

- local assistance aiming at promoting and supporting national organisations to work for the welfare and rehabilitation of prisoners

7. Representation :

Members in some thirty countries all over the world including Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

8. Personalities :

Chairperson : Prof H. TULKENS (Netherlands)

Deputy Chairperson: Ms V. SINGH (Caribbean)

Treasurer : Mr B. SCHOEN (France)

Secretary General : Ms V. STERN (France)

9. Finance :

- membership fees

- inheritances, legacies, gifts

- donations

- grants and subsidies

- revenues from investments

- other income

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

The Penal Reform International is a particularly representative and serious organisation. It has already established working relations with the Council of Europe (observer status with the CDPC) which indicates that PRI can make a useful contribution to the work of the Council.

For these reasons, the Secretary General recommends that consultative status be attributed to the Penal Reform International.

"REPORTERS SANS FRONTIERES"

1. Application for consultative status: 23 October 1991

2. Founded : 1989

3. Headquarters : Montpellier

4. Aims : Protection of freedom to receive and impart information worldwide. This involves:

- action to obtain the release of imprisoned journalists;

- informing the public about and gathering public support for journalists and media organs that are victims of oppression;

- promoting or organising meetings and exchanges in order to publicise the association's aims;

- visits to countries where human rights, particularly press freedom, are flouted;

- combating censorship and other violations of freedom of information by all possible means;

- co-operating with government and non-government institutions which share its aims;

- seeing that branches of "Reporters Sans Frontières" comply with the association's aims as laid down in its constitution

5. Structure:

A. Membership:

i. full members: representatives of branches of "Reporters Sans Frontières" meeting the requirements laid down in the association's constitution

ii. individual members: individuals meeting the requirements laid down in the constitution

B. Organs :

i. International Executive Council: jointly decides the association's action and aims; is composed of members appointed by branches, members elected by the college of members, and the Secretary General; meets at least once a year;

ii. General Assembly: comprises the full members; meets at least once a year

6. Activities:

- action to protect journalists under threat and combat censorship;

- speaking out for imprisoned journalists;

- informing the media about violations of press freedom;

- meetings on matters of concern to the profession

7. Representation :

Individual members in 32 countries including Belgium (25 members), Greece (1 member), Italy (2 members) and Poland (2 members). National branches in France, Spain and Switzerland

8. Personalities :

President : Mr X. VINADER (Spain)

Vice-President : Mr P. NJAWE (Cameroon)

Treasurer : Mr J-C GUILEBAUD (France)

Secretary General : Mr R. MENARD (France)

9. Finance :

- annual resources

- movable assets

- annual incomings

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

Active co-operation between the Council of Europe and this organisation is already under way. Examination of the file submitted by "Reporters sans Frontières" shows that the organisation meets the conditions for granting consultative status; it is sufficiently representative at European level and can make a useful contribution by its activities to the work of the Council of Europe.

For these reasons, the Secretary General recommends that consultative status be granted to "Reporters sans Frontières".

EUROPEAN SECRETARIAT FOR SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

(SEPS)

1. Application for consultative status : 4 March 1992

2. Founded : 1989

3. Headquarters: Rome

4. Aims :

- to promote the circulation, among publishers, of works of undoubted scholarly, cultural or educational interest

5. Structure :

A. Membership:

i. founder members: as designated in the articles of association;

ii. contributing members

iii. associate members

B. Organs :

i. Chairman: elected by the Board of Directors; the secretariat's legal representative; in charge of implementing decisions of the Board of Directors and exercises such powers as are not expressly assigned to the Board of Directors or the General Council;

ii. Board of Directors: has up to 23 members appointed by special general meetings; has whatever powers are required for sound management of the secretariat; meets at least every three months;

iii. General Council: composed of founder and contributing members; issues guidelines to the Board of Directors on development of activities and on the Secretariat's work schedule; meets at least once a year;

iv. Board of Auditors ;

v. Secretary General

6. Activities:

- contact with European institutions and universities;

- promoting publication of works of scholarly or cultural interest

7. Representation :

Members in Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Russia and the United Kingdom

8. Personalities :

President : Prof G. LA LOGGIA (Italy)

Secretary General : Prof F. RIZZI (Italy)

9. Finance :

- income from assets;

- sums received from members and other bodies;

- payments arising out of secretariat ventures

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

The European Secretariat for Scientific Publications already has working relations with the Council of Europe, in particular as regards dissemination of the results of some of the Council's work. It is also clear from the application that it is capable of making a valuable contribution to the Council of Europe's work.

The Secretary General accordingly recommends that it be granted consultative status.

WORLD ORT UNION

1. Application for consultative status : 11 May 1992

2. Founded : 1921

3. Headquarters : Geneva

4. Aims :

- to improve the economic and social circumstances of Jews and others through vocational and technical training in countries where there is a need for them and by providing young Jews with an education designed to consolidate their Jewish identity and culture

5. Structure:

A. Membership: independent national organisations having the status of associations

B. Organs :

i. Congress: composed of delegates elected by member organisations and of members of the Central Board; examines progress reports; elects the union's bodies; meets every six years;

ii. Central Board: the union's supreme body; meets every three years;

iii. Executive Committee: supervises implementation of decisions of the Congress or Board; has 25-50 members, elected by the Board; meets at least twice a year

6. Activities :

- ORT network (programmes of technical training and assistance - in the last five years there have been 21 studies and 34 projects in Asia, Latin America and Africa);

- co-operation with national and international institutions

7. Representation :

National committees and operational bureaux in: Germany, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom as well as in Asia, America and Africa

8. Personalities :

President : Lord YOUNG OF GRAFFHAM (United Kingdom)

Chairman of the

Executive Committee : Mr S. APPLETON (United States of America)

Director General : Mr J. HARMATZ (United Kingdom)

Director of International

Co-operation,representative

to the Council of Europe

and Vice-President : Mr S. FELDMAN (Switzerland)

Mr J-H. LEOPOLD-METZGER (France)

9. Finance :

- membership fees;

- revenue, gifts, bequests, subsidies and fund-raising;

- income from assets

* *

10. Opinion of the Secretary General :

Given that the World ORT Union is satisfactorily representative and can make a contribution to the Council of Europe's work, the Secretary General recommends granting it consultative status.

1 ¹ "9. Every six months the Secretary General shall inform the Committee of Ministers and Assembly of the names of the organisations which he is considering adding to the list or removing from it together with those items of the relevant files which are necessary for the assessment of each case and his reasons for suggesting they be added to the list or removed from it, having regard to the rules laid down in paragraphs 2, 3 and 7 above; the Secretary General's memorandum concerning the removal of any organisation from the list shall also include any comments submitted by that organisation on the Secretary General's intention. In the absence of any objection as described in paragraph 10 below, the names of organisations that have thus been communicated shall be added to the list or removed from it, as the case may be, six months later."

2 ¹ "10. During the six-month period a member of the Committee of Ministers or three members of the Assembly of at least two different nationalities may request that an examination be made of the file of each organisation whose name has been communicated. In the former case, the examination shall be made and the decision to add the name to the list or to remove it from the list shall be taken by Committee of Ministers. In the latter case the Assembly, acting on a report from its competent committee, shall address a recommendation to the Committee of Ministers, which shall take a final decision. If an examination of the file of an organisation is requested both by a member of the Committee of Ministers and by three members of the Assembly of at least two nationalities, the Committee of Ministers shall defer its decision until it has received a recommendation from the Assembly."