Partners

The WAGGGS Europe Region has consultative status with the Council of Europe and is a member of the Advisory Council of the Youth and Sport Directorate. WAGGGS helps ensure that the Council of Europe’s work is meeting the needs of young people living in Europe today. WAGGGS is also supported by the European Youth Foundation.

The European Commission recognises the contribution that WAGGGS in Europe makes to the active participation of young people in society and supports our work through the Youth in Action Programme.

WAGGGS has contributed to a number of initiatives at European level including the Youth Health Initiative organized by DG SANCO (responsible for health and consumer protection), the EU Forum on the Rights of the Child and the Forum on the Future of Gender equality organized by DG Justice, liberty and Security, and the development of European youth policies by the Youth Unit of DG Education and Culture.

We are active in the European Youth Forum (a European platform representing national youth councils and international non-governmental youth organizations) representing the interests of young people throughout Europe. Members of the External Relations Group represent WAGGGS on the several working groups of the Youth Forum, and we contribute to the development of its policies and the implementation of its plans. Furthermore, two members of the WAGGGS External Relations group have been elected as representatives of the European Youth Forum to the Advisory council on Youth of the Council of Europe for the years 2014-2015 and 2016-2017.

In 2011, we were a member of the European Year of Volunteering Alliance, a network of 22 civil society networks contributing to the preparations for the European Year of Volunteering. As a follow-up, Europe Region WAGGGS became a founder member of the European Alliance for Volunteering (EAV); and a member of the External Relations Group is working in the Board of the EAV to implement its workplan.

The Platform of European Social NGOs (Social Platform) is the alliance of representative European federations and networks of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the social sector. Is the largest civil society alliance fighting for social justice and participatory democracy in Europe. Consisting of 40 pan-European networks of NGOs, the Social Platform campaigns to ensure that EU policies are developed in partnership with the people they affect, respecting fundamental rights, promoting solidarity and improving lives.

The members of the Social Platform insist that NGOs have a key role to play in promoting an equal society based on the protection and advancement of human rights and the participation of all. NGOs must become legitimate partners in the public debate on the orientation of European society. It is with this in mind that the Social Platform seeks to develop and strengthen a civil dialogue between European NGOs and the institutions of the European Union.

The WAGGGS Europe Region is a member of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), the largest alliance of women’s non-governmental organizations in the EU. The EWL works to advance equality between women and men as well as to ensure the mainstreaming and monitoring of a gender equality perspective in all areas of EU policy.

The Europe Region works on issues of common interest with the WOSM - European Scout Region, representing the interests of our members and aiming to influence and contribute to the issues affecting young people living in Europe today. In 2014 a Memorandum of Understanding between both Committees was signed in Brussels, Belgium. This was an historical moment, highly appreciated and celebrated by both committees and staff. This memorandum will improve our ways of working together and ensure that joint activities are effectively and efficiently delivered and responding to the real needs of Member Organizations and NSOs.