Our Commitment to the Council of Europe

Our Diverse Heritage Manager, Jen, recently participated in a working group meeting in Paris on June 19th and 20th. This group is contributing to the Council of Europe’s Draft Recommendation on the role of culture and heritage in promoting equality and non-discrimination.

Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe is Europe’s foremost human rights organisation, with 46 member states committed to upholding the European Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to advance democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across Europe and beyond.

The working group, composed of experts from Albania, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom, provides critical feedback on the policy document. They help shape recommendations and contribute case studies and examples of best practice. This collaborative work will continue throughout the year, with the final draft scheduled for review by the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) in November.

Our Heritage Connection

Did you know that Doors Open Days is part of the Council of Europe’s European Heritage Days programme?

Inspired by a visit to the Netherlands during the Open Monumentendag festival in 1988, Scottish Civic Trust’s Technical Director John Gerard envisioned a similar celebration for Glasgow’s designation as European City of Culture in 1990. Ayr soon launched its own regional programme, and Doors Open Days in Scotland was born.

John Gerard shares more about the early history of Doors Open Days in this interview.