“The emphasis of today’s event on the non-take-up of rights is a reminder of the obstacles which still prevent our citizens from enjoying fundamental rights, from housing to education,” stated Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities at the CINGO event on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, in Strasbourg, on 17 October 2022. “Local and regional authorities’ proximity to citizens makes them uniquely well-placed to understand the barriers to accessing rights and services,” he underlined.

The Chamber President highlighted the efforts of the Congress to bolster the position of social rights within its work, in particular through the 2nd volume of its human rights handbook which focuses on social rights and provides concrete examples of best practices of service delivery from across the continent.

“Our role in bringing together a diverse range of experiences makes the Congress a useful forum for raising awareness of the non-take-up of rights. Of course, local and regional authorities cannot do this alone. They need to be involved, consulted, and integrated into the implementation of national policies,” he stated.

Mr. Vöhringer underlined the importance of the Congress to remain fully committed and making of social rights a reality for citizens throughout Europe’s cities and regions. “The Congress will continue fighting poverty and contributing to a cohesive society where no one is left behind”, he concluded.