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Activities and Events of the Charter 2012

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CONFERENCES. WORKSHOPS, STUDY VISITS
11-12 December 2012 Moscow, Russian Federation
International High Level Conference on Decent Work held in Moscow
 The Russian Federation, with the support of the International Labour Organization, held  the International High-level Conference on Decent Work, which took place in Moscow from 11 to 12 December 2012.  Mr. Luis Jimena-Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights and Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security participated in this conference.
   Conference Website
Programme
6 December 2012 Strasbourg, France
Seminar on “The European Social Charter: discretion of States” in Strasbourg
In honour of three members leaving the Committee at the end of 2012 after having served two mandates – Mr Belorgey, former President of the Committee and Rapporteur General, Ms Kollonay Lehoczky and Mr. Swiatkowski – a seminar organised by the Council of Europe and the International Institute of Human Rights René Cassin was held in Strasbourg on 6 December 2012. 
Programme 
 Photo Gallery
30 November 2012 Warsaw, Poland Our rights - our responsibilities, the European Social Charter presented by children in Warsaw
 [30/11/2012] A recent pilot project “Our rights – our responsibilities” aiming to involve children in the monitoring procedure of the European Social Charter is being carried out in Warsaw, Poland. This project is jointly financed by the Council of Europe’s strategy for children’s rights and the work is based on the comic strip “Tell me, what is the European Social Charter”, published by the Council of Europe. This publication is meant to familiarise young people with the provisions of the Charter and to incite them to develop awareness of their rights and responsibilities. Approximately 100 pupils from 9 to 10 years of age attending a school adapted for children with special needs first selected the rights they felt were the most pertinent. They then observed how these rights are implemented and finally were given the opportunity to express their view points by drawing pictures, singing songs and telling stories. These presentations will be held in Warsaw today, at a conference entitled “Children and social rights”, which will mark the end of this project. 		Programme (Polish only)
Final report
29 November 2012 Strasbourg, France
Round Table on the right to housing to be held at in Strasbourg
[29/11/2012]   The right to housing is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 31 of the European Social Charter.  In order to promote a better understanding of the scope of this instrument  in the field of housing rights, a Round Table entitled  "Le Droit au logement - principes européens et réalités sur le terrain" (The right to housing, how it is protected in  theory and in practice in Europe), was held in Strasbourg? France on 29 November 2012, at the European Parliamentary Association.  Mr. Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security, participated in this event. 
Programme
28 November 2012 Valencia, Spain A day of protest against gender-based violence in Valencia
An academic conference was held in Valencia on 28 November 2012, focussing on gender-based violence, and in particular on sexual harrassment in the workplace. Prof. Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights, participated in this conference.  		Programme/a>
16 November 2012 Rome, Italy
Academic Conference on the European Social Charter in Rome
[16/11/2012]  An academic conference entitled "Riflessioni giuridiche sulla Carta sociale europea" (Reflections on the European Social Charter from a legal point of view) and organised by the Academic Network on the European Social Charter in cooperation with Istituto di Studi Giuridici Internazionali du Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy and the Department of the European Social Charter, is being held on 16 November 2012, in Rome.  For more information on this conference, consult the ISGI website.
  Programme
 Poster
ISGI website
15 November 2012 Yerevan, Armenia
Seminar in Yerevan, Armenia, on the European Social Charter
 [16/11/2012] A seminar on the European Social Charter was held in Yerevan on 15 November 2012, with the aim of promoting the ratification of the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints and to ensure the effectiveness of fundamental social rights in Armenia.  Two members of the European Committee of Social Rights, Ms Jarna Petman and Ms Karin Lukas participated in this seminar as well as Mr. Régis Brillat, Head of Department of the European Social Charter, and Ms Nino Chitashvili, Adminstrator.  
 Programme
7 November 2012 Brussels, Belgium Workshop on collective complaints organised by IPPF in Brussels, Belgium The International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF EN) organised a day of training in Brussels on 8 November 2012, focusing on the European Social Charter Collective Complaint Mechanism. This workshop aimed to increase the understanding and commitment of IPPF EN’s members to use the Charter as a key human rights instrument to advance members’ national advocacy efforts. Mr. Giuseppe Palmisano, member of the European Committee of Social Rights and Mr. Riccardo Priore, lawyer in the Department of the European Social Charter,  participated in this workshop.  Programme
6-7 November 2012 Ohrid, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" Training of judges on social rights A training session on “Protecting men and women workers through the Human Rights based instruments” was held in Ohrid, “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, on 6-7 November 2012 with the aim of helping to raise awareness of the Council of Europe instruments which protect social rights as well as encourage the implementation of the provisions of the European Social Charter by national judges. The training session aimed at discussing, in particular, labour rights and the respect for gender equality in employment in the light of the requirements of the Charter, with a view to identifying the needs for training curricula referring to social rights for judges and other relevant professionals.  Programme
6-7 November 2012 Belgrade, Serbia Information meetings on the system of collective complaints in Belgrade, Serbia
In the framework of the European Social Charter a series of information meetings on the collective complaints system was held in Belgrade from 6 to 7 November 2012. The object of these meetings is to obtain the ratification of the Additional Protocol of 1995 providing for a system of collectie complaints by Serbia. Two members of the European Committee of Social Rights, Mr. Jean-Michel Belorgey, General Rapporteur, and Mr. Petros Stangos participated in these meetings, as well as Mr. Mikaël Poutiers, administrator in the Department of the European Social Charter.		 Programme
17 octobre 2012 Strasbourg, France
"Building Europe through Human Rights: Acting Together against Extreme Poverty". The right to protection against poverty and social exclusion is a fundamental social right guaranteed by Article 30 of the Revised European Social Charter. On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the Conference of INGOs has organised a conference, in cooperation with the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security, which was held in Strasbourg on 17 October 2012. Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights participated in this conference, the main actors of which are people living in poverty, representatives of public authorities and representatives of organised civil society. Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter gave a presentation on the right to health and the Charter. 
Programme
27 September 2012 Strasbourg, France (Palais de l'Europe) Colloquium on the right to work for refugees in Strasbourg organised by UNHCR and the Council of Europe, 27 September 2012
Colloquium on the right to work for refugees, Strasbourg, September 2012 		Programme 
Poster 
Photo gallery
Podcast
Speech of the Deputy Secretary General
05 September 2012 Berlin, Germany Regional Workshop “Business and Human Rights" in Berlin
[05/09/2012] A workshop on business and human rights, organised by the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions, was held in Berlin, Germany, from 5 to 7 September 2012.  Mr. Riccardo Priore, Administrator in the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security participated in this conference and gave a presentation on the European Social Charter and the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints.
Programme
    The right to the protection of health is guaranteed in Article 11 of the European Social Charter. ELSA (The European Law Students Association) organised a competition on this topic.  The three best essays appear below:
Alejandro José Zamora Pérez (Spain) Depoina Poutakidou (Greece) Giulia Funghi and Alessandro Rosanò (Italy)
(The opinions expressed in these essays are not necessarily those of the Council of Europe. )		  
27 - 31 August 2012 Andorra Presentation on the protection of social rights in Europe at Summer University, Andorra
 The 29th session of Summer University in Andorra entitled Empreintes d'Europe dans le monde was held from 27 to 31 August 2012 in Andorra. M. Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights, spoke of the protection of social rights in Europe in times of crisis.
Programme
Site
23 - 31 August
2012		 Ulyanovsk, Russian Federation 1st forum of social workers of the Volga region "social Cohesion. Open Society. Equal Opportunities, Elena Machulskaya, member of the European Committee of Social Rights and Riccardo Priore, Administrator in the Service of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security Programme
23 August 2012 Bucharest, Romania A meeting organised by the trade union Blocul National Syndical was held in Bucharest on 23 August 2012, in order to promote the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective of complaints with a view to its ratification by Romania.  Two members of the European Committee of Social Rights, Mr. Luis Jimena Quesada, President, and Mr. Alexandru Athanasiu, participated in this meeting, as well as Mr. Régis Brillat, Head of Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security.
 Programme 
Website of Blocul National Syndical
14 July 2012 Venice, Italy
Conference on the EU and economic, social and cultural rights at EIUC in Venice
[11/07/2012] A conference on the European Union and economic and social rights was held on 14 July 2012 in Venice, Italy, at the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC).  At this conference Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security,  spoke of the challenges in the monitoring of the European Social Charter
 Programme
EIUC Website
26 June 2012  Strasbourg, France Exchange of views with M. Kjaerum, FRA, 26 June 2012The European Committee of Social Rights held an exchange of views  with Mr Morten Kjaerum, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.   (more information)
18-19 June 2012 Sofia, Bulgaria The Charter and Roma rights - training for lawyers in Sofia, Bulgaria
A professional training of lawyers on national defense of the rights of Roma, organised by the Division of Roma and Travellers of the Council of Europe, took place in Sofia, Bulgaria from 18-19 June 2012. Ms Rovena Demiraj, Administrator in the Department of the European Social Charter, participated in this meeting and introduced the trainees to the European Social Charter, with specific focus on the collective complaints procedure and the case-law of the European Committee of Social Rights on Roma rights.		  
15 June 2012 Brussels, Belgium PICUM workshop on human rights for undocumented migrants in Brussels
[15/06/2012] A workshop entitled "Using Legal Strategies to Enforce Undocumented Migrants’ Human Rights" was organised by the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), on 15 June 2012  in Brussels (Belgium).  Mr Luis Jimena-Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights and Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security participated in this workshop and spoke on the applicability of the European Social Charter to undocumented migrants.		 (more information)
Programme
5 June 2012 Tirana, Albania
Meeting on Non-Accepted Provisions, Tirana (Albania), 5 June 2012 A seminar on the provisions of the Charter which have not yet been accepted by Albania was held in Tirana (Albania) on 5th June 2012. This seminar provided the occasion for an exchange of views and information on these provisions. Ms Csilla Kollonay Lehoczky, Mr Giuseppe Palmisano, members of the European Committee of Social Rights, Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security, as well as Ms Rovena Demiraj, Administrator, participated in this meeting.
 Programme
25 May 2012 London, United Kingdom  A workshop on the right to work, legal and philosophical perspectives was held in London today.  Mr. Colm O'Cinneide, Vice President of the European Committee of Social Rights spoke of the right to work in the European Social Charter. (more information)
Programme
19-20 May 2012 London, United Kingdom A conference entitled "Resocialising Europe and the mutualisation of risks to workers" was held in London from 19-20 May 2012.  Three members of the European Committee of Social Rights, Mr Colm O'Cinneide, Ms Monika Schlachter and Mr Andrzej Swiatkowski, participated in this conference


(more information)
Programme
17 May 2012 Rome, Italy Seminar on the collective complaint procedure, Rome, May 2012Seminar on the collective complaint procedure in Rome, Italy
An information seminar on the collective complaints procedure in the framework of the European Social Charter was held in Rome on 17 May 2012, in cooperation with the Italian trade unions CGIL, CSIL and UIL.. Participants in this seminar included two members of the European Committee of Social Rights, Mr Alexandru Athanasiu and Mr Giuseppe Palmisano, as well as Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security and Mr Riccardo Priore, Administrator. 		 Programme
12 May 2012 Basque Country, Spain Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights, made a contribution to a conference entitled "Los derechos sociales en tiempos de crisis: hay solucion,  busquemos alternativas" (Social rights in times of crisis, what are the solutions?), organised by the Ombudsman in the Basque Country (Spain). Programme  (more information)
10 May 2012 London, United Kingdom
 A workshop entitled "The European Social Charter 50 Years On: Commitment, Interpretation and Compliance", hosted by UCL European Institute took place in London.  Among the participants were two members of the European Committee of Social Rights, Mr. Colm O'Cinneide, Vice-Presidnt and Ms Jarna Petman, as well as Ms Niamh Casey, administrator in the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security. 
more information
26 April 2012
Webinar on women's rights to social security protection -- the role of the European Social Charter
Ms. Karin Lukas, member of the European Committee of Social Rights,  participated in a webinar series on "The international initiative to promote women's rights to social security protection" on 26 April 2012.  Ms. Lukas' presentation was entitled "The scope and boundaries of an effective right to social security: the experience of the European Committee of Social Rights.
  (more information)
25 April 2012 Moscow, Russian Federation [24/04/2012] Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security presented the Charter at a training course for Russian civil servants at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations on 25 April 2012. MGIMO Website
24-25 April 2012 Astrakhan, Russian Federation A seminar was held in Astrakhan (Russian Federation) from 24 to 25 April 2012, with the aim of ensuring a wider application of the European Social Charter by the Russian Federation and to assist it in the process of signature and ratification of the European Code of Social Security.  Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security, participated in this conference as well as Ms. Ana Gomez, administrator.   Draft programme 
20-21 April 2012 Galway, Ireland An international conference entitled “Contemporary Housing Issues in a changing Europe” was held in Galway (Ireland) from 20-21 April 2012. It provided an opportunity to explore significant contemporary issues arising in the area of housing law, rights and policy from both a European and international perspective.  Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security, participated in this conference. Programme
Presentation by Mr. Régis Brillat
 Conference website
17 April 2012 Brussels, Belgium In the framework of the Transnational Trade Union Rights research network (TTUR), a seminar on the 'Impact of the economic crisis on labour law in Europe' was held on 17 April 2012 in Brussels. This seminar brought together experts, lawyers and economists, academics and trade unionists. Ms Monika Schlachter, Vice President of the European Committee of Social Rights, spoke of protective measures of the Charter in a time of crisis.  Programme 

TTUR Website
30 March 2012 Madrid, Spain Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights, and Mrs Maria Luisa Cava de Llano, Defensor del Pueblo, SpainMr Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights held an exchange of views on 30 March 2012, with Mrs Maria Luisa Cava de Llano, Defensor del Pueblo, Spain, at the institution headquarters in Madrid. The exchange concerned possible means of collaboration between this institution and the Committee. Website
27 March 2012   In a  meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of ETUC, stated that the Revised European Social Charter, together with its Protocols, constitute the main tools for guaranteeing the protection of fundamental social rights in Europe. ETUC urges the European Union and the States Parties to the Charter who have not done so to ratify the Revised Charter as soon as possible, stressing that it is equally important that all member states adhere to the Collective Complaint Procedure. Press release
13-14 March 2012 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
An international conference was held in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) from 13 to 14 March 2012 entitled "Access denied, working on a new paradigm" and was organised by the VU University Amsterdam, the University of Leuven and Regioplan Amsterdam in the framework of the Research Project "Cross Border Welfare State". The conference was attended by Mr Giuseppe Palmisano, member of the European Committee of Social Rights. 		Conference website
27 February - 2 March 2012 Zagreb, Croatia The European Law Students' Association (ELSA) Zagreb organised a mini school of human rights entitled "The 50th Anniversary of the European Social Charter, Social and economic human rights", in Zagreb, Croatia, from 27 February to 2 March 2012.  On this occasion Mrs Polonca Koncar, former President of the European Committee of Social Rights gave a presentation entitled "The European Committee of Social Rights of the Council of Europe, its role and its case-law. Programme (Croatian only)
29  February 2012 Vienna, Austria Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and the Code of Social Security made a presentation of the case law of the European Committee of Social Rights on health care quality and  non discrimination at a meeting organised by FRA, entitled  “Inequalities and multiple discrimination in access to healthcare”.  
16 February 2012 Paris, France A seminar entitled  «L’application par la France des droits sociaux garantis par la Charte sociale européenne : quelles règles du jeu ?» (The implementation of social rights laid down in the European Social Charter by France: what are the rules of the game?) was held in Paris today. It was attended by Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights, and Jean-Michel Belorgey, General Rapporteur, as well as Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter and of the European Code of Social Security. Programme
10  February 2012 Paris, France (Sorbonne) [10/02/2012] A workshop, organised by the Institut de recherche en droit international et européen de la Sorbonne, entitled "La justice sociale saisie par les juges en Europe" was held in Paris on 10 February 2012.  Luis Jimena Quesada gave a presentation on social justice in Spanish constitutional caselaw.  Programme
09 February 2012 Toulouse, France A colloquy entitled Pluralisme des sources et "dialogue des juges" en droit social  will take place at the University of Toulouse sponsored by the Association Française de Droit du travail in collaboration with the Council of Europe. Mr Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights, will give a presentation on the effectiveness of social law and judicial will in Europe. Programme
24 January 2012   Publication of the Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights for 2011

Interview with Prof. Luis Jimena Quesada		 more information