10th Anniversary of the COE-FRA-ENNHRI-EQUINET Collaborative Platform on Social and Economic Rights
Rural communities face persistent barriers to social and economic rights, including income inequality, poor connectivity, limited services, and discrimination. Despite the protections of the European Social Charter and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, these challenges continue to undermine equality and inclusion.
This event will explore how state obligations under both Charters can address these gaps, and how NHRIs, Equality Bodies, and civil society can use existing standards to strengthen rights-based approaches to rural development.
Marking the 10th anniversary of the COE-FRA-ENNHRI-EQUINET Platform, the event will reflect on progress, identify remaining challenges, and chart future action.
09:30 – 12:30 | Annual meeting of the ENNHRI Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural rights
12:30 – 14:30 | Lunch
14:30 – 16:30 | High-level Round table discussion ‘10 years of collaboration – challenges, achievements, and the way forward’
Welcome and opening remarks :
Prof Kasey MC-CALL SMITH, Director of the Global Justice Academy, University of Edinburgh
Jan SAVAGE, Executive Director, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Moderator:
Aaliya SEYAL, Member, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Panellists:
Rafael BENITEZ, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe
Debbie KOHNER, Secretary General of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI)
Tamas KADAR, Co-Director of EQUINET
Piotr SADOWSKI, Secretary General of Volonteurope & Vice President of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe
17:00 – 19:30 | Cultural event: Tour of the Scottish Parliament Building / Reception
Welcoming remarks will be delivered by:
Annabelle EWING MSP, Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
Rafael BENITEZ, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe
Rosemary AGNEW, Member of the Scottish Human Rights Commission
09:00 - 09:30 | Registration of participants
09:30 – 10:00 | Opening session
Moderated by Margarita GALSTYAN, Head of Cooperation Unit, Department of Social Rights, Council of Europe
Welcoming remarks
Rafael BENITEZ, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe
Angela O'HAGAN, Chair of Scottish Human Rights Commission
Keynote speech - Rights and Rurality: challenges and opportunities for the full realisation of socio-economic rights for rural communities in Europe
Tatiana PUIU, Vice-President of the European Committee of Social Rights
10:00– 11:15 | Session 1: The state of socio-economic rights in rural Europe
Moderated by Debbie Kohner, Secretary General of ENNHRI
Findings by the Commissioner for Human Rights on access to social rights in rural Europe
Charlotte ALTENHÖNER-DION, Adviser, Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe
Rural Exodus in Europe: Creating Opportunities for Local and Regional Renewal: presentation of the upcoming report of the Social Inclusion Committee of the Congress for Local and Regional Authorities
Ana WINSHIP, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
Theona L MORRISON, Chair of the Scottish Rural Action
Access to public services and healthcare for people living in rural areas in Croatia
Tatjana VLAŠIĆ, Deputy Ombudswoman, Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia
Q&A Session (15 min)
11:15 – 11:30 | Coffee break
11:30 – 12:45 | Session 2: Legal Frameworks and Gaps – Effective protection of social and economic rights in rural areas
Moderated by Tamas Kadar, Co-Director of EQUINET
Speakers – Panel Discussion:
Tatiana PUIU, Vice President of the European Committee of Social Rights
Patrycja POGODZINSKA, Project Officer, Equality, Roma and Social Rights Unit, FRA
Jamshid GAZIYEV, Secretary, UN Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas
Luis Felipe YANES, Policy Officer – Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Lead, Scottish Human Rights Commission
12:45 - 14:15 | Lunch break
14:15 – 15:45 | Parallel working groups - NHRIs and Equality Bodies experiences and good practice in realising socio-economic rights in rural areas
WG 1: Access to essential services – Health, Education, Housing, Connectivity
Moderated by Mariam Rechchad, Policy Officer, EQUINET
WG 2: Employment, Inclusion, and Youth Opportunities in Rural Areas
Moderated by Sophie Hale, Human Rights Officer (Capacity Building), ENNHRI Permanent Secretariat
WG 3: Local governance and rural participation in decision-making
Moderated by David REILLY, Head of Communities and Networks, Scottish Poverty Alliance
WG 4: Strengthening rights monitoring through different mechanisms (Scottish report on Highlands and Islands)
Moderated by Alison HOSIE, Research Officer, Scottish Human Rights Commission
15:45 – 16:00 | Coffee Break
16:00 – 16:40 | Reporting back from Working Groups and discussion16:00 – 16:40 | Reporting back from Working Groups and discussion
Summary of key insights and proposals from each group (7 minutes each group)
16:40 – 17:10 | Closing session
Moderated by Tanya MONTANARI, Coordinator of the COE-FRA-ENNHRI-EQUINET Platform on Social and Economic Rights
Invite participants to share their main takeaways
Conclusions by Nikolaos PAPADOPOULOS, Rapporteur
Closing message by Luis Felipe YANES, Policy Officer – Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Lead, Scottish Human Rights Commission