European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity
The European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity – known as North-South Centre – was founded as an independent body within the framework of the Council of Europe in 1990 and is based in Lisbon/Portugal.
The Centre’s role is to represent “a voice of the South” within the Council of Europe. On the one hand, the Centre offers its members a framework for their cooperation in raising public awareness for global correlations and dependencies. On the other hand, the Centre is a symbol of solidarity towards non-European countries, and as such advocates the universality of values like democracy, human rights, dialogue and cooperation beyond the European continent.
The North-South Centre is based on the three principles dialogue, partnership and solidarity. The Centre’s priorities are global education, youth and intercultural dialogue.
In order to involve as many different partners as possible in its work, the North-South Centre is run on the basis of a “quadrilogue”, a term coined to mean the combination of four partners from political institutions and civil society: Governments, Parliaments, Local and Regional Authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations. Representatives of these four partners are also part of the bureau of the Centre’s executive committee.
North-South Prize
Every year since 1995, two candidates, who have stood out for their exceptional commitment to promoting human rights, democracy and North-South solidarity have been awarded the North-South Prize.
Among the laureates are Danielle Mitterrand, Rania of Jordan, Mary Robinson, Peter Gabriel, Mikhail Gorbachev, Kofi Annan, Lloyd Axworthy and Bob Geldof.
_
Photo © CoE
