Conclusions of the 2nd Seminar on International Voluntary Service

Recommendation 486 (1967)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly Debate on 27th January 1967 (24th Sitting) (see Doc. 2155,Doc. 2155, report of the Social Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 27th January 1967 (24th Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. Recalling its Resolution 313 (1966) on the convening of a second Seminar on International Voluntary Service, having as its subject "The role of non-governmental organisations in African development";

2. Recalling the texts adopted earlier on International Voluntary Service, in particular Recommendations 345 (1963) and 419 (1965) and Resolutions 256 (1963) and 292 (1965);

3. Welcoming the decision that the Committee for Out-of-School Education of the CCC will be represented on the Committee of the Regional Conference on International Voluntary Service, as requested in paragraph 1 of Recommendation 419;

4. Expressing its satisfaction at the success of the 2nd Seminar held at Strasbourg from 10th to 13th October 1966, and at the presence on that occasion of representatives of several Governments of Council of Europe member States;

5. Having decided to transmit to the Committee of Ministers the Conclusions adopted by the Seminar (Appendix I to Doc. 2155),

6. Draws the attention of the Committee of Ministers to all the conclusions of the 2nd Seminar relating to co-operation between non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations (Working Group I);

7. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers submit to member Governments the conclusions of the Seminar on the concessions and facilities it would like to see granted to volunteers for non-military service overseas, as indicated in the annexed Recommendation of the Seminar;

8. Further recommends that the Committee of Ministers make an approach either to member Governments or to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the aim of securing at least a 50 % reduction in the fares of volunteers going overseas or returning by air.

Appendix ANNEX

Recommendation of the 2nd Seminar on International Voluntary Service on concessions and facilities to be granted to Volunteers [(1) At the 1st Seminar on International Voluntary Service, the word 'volunteer' has been defined as follows: 'A person who contributes his or her personal abilities and makes personal sacrifices to the promotion of international understanding by working with the peoples in other countries as part of their development programmes for at least one year, recruited, trained and administered or sponsored by a non-governmental agency which, without any political aim, is dedicated to international voluntary service'.] for service overseas

The Study Seminar, meeting in Strasbourg on the initiative ofthe Council of Europe,

Considering the growing interest shown by the developing countries in the voluntary service programmes;

Considering the increase in the number of voluntary service activities in the Council of Europe's member States since the first Seminar was held in Strasbourg in 1963;

Considering the greatly increased efficiency that would result from the establishment of certain harmonised standards based on experience and the expectations of the developing countries;

Considering that the adoption of such standards would facilitate the formation of international working teams, the necessity for which is becoming increasingly apparent;

Considering that the employment of voluntary workers in multilateral and intergovernmental co-operation programmes requires the various national voluntary service systems to be founded to the greatest possible extent on a number of common characteristics,

Expresses the hope that the Council of Europe will associate itself with the efforts of the non-governmental organisations by recommending the Governments of its member States to investigate the possibility of establishing a basic statute for voluntary workers;

Considers the basic guarantees, advantages and facilities that should be secured by such a statute to be as follows:

1 An adequate social security scheme for all voluntary workers, standards and contributions to be adapted in each case to the position in the country concerned. In particular, such scheme should provide adequate insurance against accidents during employment, sickness, disability and old age;

2 General and, if possible, equalised "retraining" grants to facilitate the voluntary worker's return to regular employment in his country of origin upon completion of his overseas service;

3 The retention of career rights and advantages by voluntary workers seconded from public services and from other services financed from public funds; for both these types of voluntary worker, retention of all rights of seniority in respect of salary scales during the years spent in voluntary service;

4 Contributions mainly in the form of study grants and subsidies towards specific training and refresher courses for voluntary workers preparing to take, or having undertaken, service overseas;

5 Tax exemption in respect of specific government grants to voluntary workers; exemption from customs duties for goods and equipment for the direct use of voluntary workers;

6 Reduced air fares for voluntary workers negotiated by Governments with the support of collective negotiations through the Council of Europe; possible government undertakings to pay remainder of fares;

7 Permission for voluntary workers vouched for and employed by non-governmental organisations to substitute civilian service overseas for all or part of their national service;

8 Co-operation with non-governmental organisations in publicising voluntary service programmes.