In a statement issued on Thursday 22 April, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Social Rights draws attention to a number of rights that have been particularly affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
Foremost among these are the rights to employment and work, social and medical security, protection against poverty and social exclusion, housing and education, but the statement also addresses the rights of children and families, women, older persons and people with disabilities.
In their response to the pandemic, States Parties to the European Social Charter must give “appropriate priority” to the most socially vulnerable groups and individuals and ensure that these measures do not discriminate in terms of enjoyment of social rights, the Committee says.
According to Council of Europe experts, investing in these rights and their implementation will mitigate the negative impact of the crisis and accelerate social and economic recovery from the pandemic.
And it uses the European Social Charter as a roadmap.
Link to the statement: https://bit.ly/3dE9Ww3 (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)