Promoting volunteering in Europe
Recommendation 1948
(2010)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Text
adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of
the Assembly, on 12 November 2010 (see Doc. 12430, report of the Social,
Health and Family Affairs Committee, rapporteur: Mr Volontè).
- Thesaurus
2. The Assembly recalls that volunteering is not a means of making
up for social and economic shortcomings which are the responsibility
of the state and the government, and should not be regarded as a cheap
way for society to delegate public responsibilities to the non-governmental
organisations handling voluntary service.
3. The Assembly recognises the democratic, humanitarian, social,
educational, formative and economic value of voluntary activity.
It wishes to emphasise, in particular, the real influence of voluntary
service on democratic life, the active citizenship of Europeans,
sustainable development and personal fulfilment, and its benefits
for the physical and mental health of volunteers, formal and informal
training and education, acquisition of skills, production of wealth,
intra-European mobility, intercultural and interfaith dialogue,
and social cohesion.
4. The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers:
4.1 invite member states to adopt
and promote an energetic policy on behalf of voluntary service;
4.2 make a commitment during the year 2011, proclaimed “European
Year of Volunteers” by the European Union, through active participation
in the information and awareness campaigns on voluntary service,
also via the Council of Europe European Youth Centres;
4.3 enjoin member states to sign and ratify the European Convention
on the Promotion of a Transnational Long-term Voluntary Service
for Young People (ETS No. 175), so that it may come into force in
2011.
