ISF re-elected as Chair of the Bureau of the Consultative Committee of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) of the Council of Europe

On June 13, at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, elections took place to renew the members of the Bureau of the Consultative Committee (CC) of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) of the Council of Europe. The Consultative committee is currently composed of 29 organisations, and for the first time, a position of Gender Equality Rapporteur position exists.

ISF is committed to promoting and participating in programmes of EPAS particularly focusing on Gender Equality and Safeguarding of children in sport. For ISF the core values of the Council of Europe, “Democracy, Human rights and rule of law” are crucial for empowering the youth generation.

It is for this reason that Executive Secretary of EPAS, Sophie Kwasny, was also present for the ISF School Sport Forum during the ISF Gymnasiade this May in Deauville, to speak of the importance of School Sport for conveying the values of the Council of Europe, while the deputy executive secretary of EPAS, Francine Raveney, presented the programmes related to safeguarding in sport.

The CC members ensure that the challenges of the sport movement and specialised organisations are properly understood by EPAS members and that bridges and coordination between members of the CC and the different bodies and components of EPAS are strengthened; to have EPAS members make full use of the expertise of CC members and to setup processes ensuring that the voice of the sports movement is heard by the members of EPAS. The CC members and new bureau are engaged in more effectively promoting the European Sports Charter, projects and values carried by the Council of Europe (EPAS) within the sport movement.

The main tasks of the 29 members of the Consultative Committee are:

• Formulate opinions and proposals on any question concerning sport, dealt with within the Council of Europe.

• Contribute to the implementation of the EPAS programme regarding activity and new standards adopted and to follow up on the Ministerial meetings; report on activities where EPAS partner organisations have been involved.
• Appoint every two years a Bureau of 6 delegates from member organisations of the Consultative Committee to cooperate with the EPAS Bureau between joint meetings.
• Make proposals on joint projects between NGOs, other relevant organisations and public authorities, to be funded among other things, through voluntary contributions.
• Prepare reports on current issues concerning sports or sports-related matters, to be presented at the joint meetings of the Governing Board and the Consultative Committee.