How do civil society organisations shape social policy and human rights across Europe? This lecture explores the influential advocacy efforts of organised social work as a key actor within Europe’s broad and interconnected civil society landscape. It focuses on their impact within two major European institutions: the human rights politics of the Council of Europe (CoE) and the social policy arena in the European Union (EU).

Focusing on two key platforms – the CoE’s Conference of International NGOs and the EU’s Social Platform – we’ll examine how these networks are structured and how they advocate for social justice and human rights. Through a comparative lens, the talk reveals how these networks skillfully navigate the unique political landscapes of the CoE and the EU, adapting their strategies to influence decision-making at the highest levels.

Join us for an insightful discussion on the evolving role of civil society in shaping a more inclusive and rights-based Europe.

Prof. dr. Katrin Toens studied political science at the Free University of Berlin, Germany, and at Fordham University in New York City, USA. After obtaining her doctorate in 1999 with a thesis on workfare reforms in the USA and in Germany, she assisted at the German Foundation of International Development in Berlin. In 2002 she continued her academic career as an Assistant Professor at the University of Hamburg, Department of Political Science, Germany. In 2012 she received a post-doctoral degree ("Habilitation"). Since 2011 she works as a Professor of Political Science in the Department of Social Work at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Freiburg, Germany, where she is head of the Master’s Degree Program in Social Work. Her teaching and research include social work relevant topics of policy analysis, European integration, and the politics of interest representation.

Thursday December 11 2025, 3 PM

Stadscampus, Aula s.B.001 (Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp).

Participation is free, but online registration is mandatory.