ICNL representatives participate in Civil G8 Summit in Moscow
PUBLISHED: JULY 20, 2006
The International Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations “Civil G8-2006” took place in Moscow on July 3-4th, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as “Forum”.) The Forum was sponsored by the Russian Government, and aimed to outline NGO approaches in response to G8 priority issues (energy security, education, the fight against infectious diseases, etc.). Approximately 600 participants from countries around the world, including Russia, participated in the Forum. Participants worked in plenary sessions and in working groups.
The Center of Democracy and Human Rights, led by Yurij Dzhibladze, invited ICNL to help organize discussions at the Roundtable on “NGOs and Government: Legal Regulation and Practice – International Experience.” International legal practices in regulating NGOs were represented by world class experts affiliated with ICNL, including Arthur Drache, Chair of ICNL’s Board of Directors – Canada; Lindsay Driscoll, Commissioner of the Charity Commission for England and Wales and former ICNL Board Member; Michael Ernst-Porksen – Germany; and Natalia Bourjaily, Vice- President NIS at ICNL. At the invitation of Ella Pamfilova, Coordinator of the National Working Group for the “Civil G8-2006” project, Lindsay Driscoll addressed the Forum on the proposition to include the NGO law issue into the agenda of the next G8 Summit in Germany. Through working groups, experts shared their experience on the regulation of NGOs in their own countries, answered questions from other participants, and raised key issues.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Forum on July 4, and each working group had an opportunity to present key topics. Yurij Dzhibladze presented on behalf of the Human Rights group. (Full text of the “Address to the Leaders of the G8 Countries” in English, and in Russian.)