A round table on access to social and economic rights and integration related services for refugees* and stateless persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia took place in Tbilisi on 10 October. The event was jointly organised by the Division of Legal Co-operation, the Department of the European Social Charter and the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe´s and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The round table addressed challenges in guaranteeing in law and practice access to social rights of refugees* and stateless persons, in particular children, as well as best practices from selected Council of Europe Member States in terms of legal frameworks.
Participants referred to the European Social Charter as a fundamental instrument that guarantees protection for refugees* and stateless persons, often exposed to poverty and social exclusion and are in daily need of basic social rights.
The European Committee of Social Rights was represented by Karin Møhl Larsen, member of the Committee; the Department of the European Social Charter was represented by Odeta Kumbaro-Bianku, lawyer in the Collective Complaints Division.
* For the purpose of this round table the term refugee includes asylum-seekers, refugees, refugees recognized under UNHCR’s mandate, persons in a refugee-like situation and humanitarian status holders.
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www.coe.int/socialcharter
