Key Outcomes from the CINGO Spring 2025 Session in Strasbourg

Participants of the CINGO Spring 2025 Session in Strasbourg discussing civil society and human rights topics

Strasbourg, 7–9 April 2025 – The CINGO Spring 2025 Session of the Council of Europe gathered civil society leaders from across the continent for three days of strategy, reporting, and advocacy. Against a backdrop of regional conflict, democratic backsliding, and societal inequality, this session reinforced the vital role of international NGOs in shaping inclusive and rights-based policy in Europe.

CINGO Spring 2025 Session: Improving Internal Coordination and Participation

The session opened with a focus on introspection and internal development. During the committee day, delegates raised key structural concerns including:

Limited participation by Conference members
Communication gaps between committees
The ongoing language barrier due to insufficient translation services

To address this, participants proposed launching a survey of all 305 member organisations to evaluate their level of committee engagement and identify obstacles to participation. The goal is to strengthen cohesion and ensure that CINGO operates as a truly representative and collaborative network. A follow-up meeting of Committee Chairs is scheduled ahead of the Autumn Session.

Gender Equality: A Renewed Strategy

A major highlight of the CINGO Spring 2025 Session was the unveiling of new initiatives in gender advocacy. The Committee on Gender Equality announced a webinar titled “Engaging Men and Boys in Gender Equality: A New Perspective”, to be held on 26 May. With guest speakers from the Work with Perpetrators European Network (WWP EN), this event aims to explore constructive roles for men in combating gender-based violence.

IPA will continue to lead the “Boys and Men and Gender Equality” working group, ensuring sustained dialogue and long-term impact. These efforts are not just symbolic—they reflect a strategic shift toward comprehensive and inclusive gender policy frameworks in Europe.

Children’s Rights Remain Central

The CINGO Spring 2025 Session further strengthened its long-standing commitment to children’s rights. Updates included:

A new Committee of Experts (CJ-OR) under the European Committee on Legal Cooperation (CDCJ), tasked with drafting recommendations by 2026 on access to origin information for those conceived via gamete donation.
CINGO’s Civil Society Committee on the Rights of the Child will appoint a representative to this body, ensuring civil society input from the outset.

In addition, a meeting in October—led by EUROCEF—will engage students and unaccompanied minors in discussions around child protection, migration, and education. Joint initiatives with the Committee on the European Social Charter were also announced to promote the European Child Guarantee and its implementation across member states.

Ukraine, Human Rights, and Shrinking Civic Space

Day two focused on international conflict, shrinking democratic space, and rising repression. Ambassador Borys Tarasyuk provided updates on Ukraine’s path toward justice, including preparations for a Special Tribunal and the establishment of a Compensation Commission. His address was followed by moving testimonies from Maksym Butkevych, human rights defender and soldier, and Lyudmyla Husieinova, Head of the NGO “Numo, Sisters,” who described conditions for women in Russian prisons.

Contributors from the Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Economic and Social Committee examined the impacts of economic and legal pressures on civil society organisations (CSOs). Legal expert Jeremy McBride highlighted multiple Article 11 ECHR violations pending before the European Court of Human Rights—clear signs of democratic deterioration in some member states.

Children’s rights in the digital age were also discussed, with Agnes Von Maravic outlining the CDENF’s upcoming priorities: AI regulation, sexuality education, and LGBTQI+ inclusion, among others. Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, used his address to reaffirm the centrality of Roma rights, migrant inclusion, and peace in Ukraine in his 2025 annual report.

Regional Challenges: Poland, North Macedonia, and Georgia

The CINGO Spring 2025 Session also spotlighted troubling trends across several European countries:

In Poland, fact-finding revealed inconsistent reception of displaced persons and the penalisation of humanitarian workers.
In North Macedonia, concerns included LGBTQI+ discrimination, government corruption, and widespread youth emigration.
Civil society delegates from Georgia warned that democratic freedoms are under severe threat, with some likening the situation to a “new Belarus.”

These national reports underscored the role of CINGO as a watchdog and advocate for democracy, especially in times of political uncertainty.

Official Outcomes and Forward Planning

The final day saw the approval of several critical documents by the General Assembly:

A call for the release of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu
A recommendation to address gender bias in AI and scientific fields
A statement on the war in Ukraine and civic space
Endorsement of the EU’s announced antipoverty strategy

The Assembly also approved the establishment of a new committee in preparation for the International Volunteer Year 2026. Rita Marques (Centre for European Volunteering) and Carmen Moreno (Volonteurope) were elected as Co-Chairs, signaling an investment in civic engagement and intergenerational solidarity.

The CINGO Spring 2025 Session concluded with reports from thematic committees and outcomes from a youth forum—highlighting the growing influence of young voices in shaping European civil society priorities.