09:00 - 09:25  Introductory Session - Opening Remarks

• Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
• Jo Etienne Abela, Minister for Health and Active Ageing of Malta
• Hans Henri P. Kluge, World Health Organisation, Regional Director for Europe 
• Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control 

09:25 - 09:40  Keynote Address

European Social Charter

Outlining the European Social Charter as an instrument, but addressing issues such as the cost of health care and healthcare systems, elderly and youth, etc

• Aoife Nolan, President of the European Committee of Social Rights

09:40 - 10:40  Session 1: Council of Europe’s role in the international health landscape

Objective :

To explore how legal standards, as well as judicial and non-judicial mechanisms uphold human rights and protect individuals against violations in medical and social contexts.

Expected Outcomes:

• Better understanding of the CoE role on health protection, its strengths and comparative advantages
• Reinforced understanding of legal obligations relating to health, including with regard to social determinants of health 

Moderator: Margo Vorykhava, Member of the Advisory Council on Youth and Advisor on Youth Policy

Panelists: 

• Rafael Benitez, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment
• Petra Doerr, Director of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare
• Hallvard Gorseth, Director of Equal Rights and Dignity
• Matjaz Gruden, Director for Democracy

11:00 - 12:15  Session 2: Accessibility and Equality

Objective:
Examining how inequality and social exclusion impact health and how the Council of Europe can help address these systemic issues.

Expected Outcomes:

• Proposals for integrated policies on health including multilevel participatory approach to health governance
• Strengthened case for rights-based health measures
• Reinforced alignment with the Agenda 2030, notably SDG 3 (health and well-being)

Moderator: Hallvard Gorseth, Director of Equal Rights and Dignity

Panelists: 

• Tomáš Doležal, Head of the Department of Private Law and of Research Unit for Medical Law and Bioethics, Institute of State and Law, Czech Academy of Sciences  
• Tanja Faller, Director of Technical Assessment and Monitoring at the Council of Europe Development Bank 
• Mélanie Lepoultier, Vice President of the Calvados Departmental Council, Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
• Stefan Schennach, Member of the Federal Chamber in the Austrian Parliament
• Hans Wolff, physician-in-chief of the Division of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals, Professor of Medicine, Geneva University

12:15 - 13:30  Session 3: Quality and safety of medical products and healthcare

Objective:
Exploring how state-of-the-art standards are elaborated and how they can support innovation and strengthen health systems.

Expected Outcomes:

• Greater awareness of the Council of Europe contributions to quality and safety of medicinal products
• Understanding of criminal responses to combat falsification of medical products
• Human rights implications 

Moderator: Petra Doerr, Director of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare

Panelists: 

• Susanne Ausborn, Global Head International Regulatory Policy, Roche and Representative of International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations
• Konstantina Boumaki, Board and Youth Group member of European Patients' Forum
• Emanuele Cesta, Lawyer at the Italian Medicines Agency
• Emer Cooke, Executive Director, European Medicines Agency  
• Maria Elósegui, Judge, European Court of Human Rights
• Deusdedit Mubangizi, Director, Health Products Policy and Standards, World Health Organisation
• Christian Tournié, Chair of the MEDICRIME Committee of the Parties, French representative

15:00 - 16:15  Session 4: Chartering the way forward

Objective:

Highlighting the Council of Europe’s role in securing health protection and human rights during conflicts and public health crises and addressing contemporary challenges in the health sector such as the impact of technology in the health field including neurotechnology and AI, online addictions, and disinformation as a threat to democracy and its impact on health. 

Expected Outcomes:

• Identification of areas for further work or strengthening
• Identification of partnerships
• Creation of synergies between sectors
• Increased ratification and implementation of relevant conventions
• Raised public awareness 

Moderator: Rafael Benitez, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment

Panelists: 

• Mark Bale, Chair of the Ethics Advisory Board of Our Future Health
• Pavla Burešová, Deputy Head of the Director-General’s Office for International and European Cooperation, Ministry of Justice from Czechia
• Işıl Selen Denemeç, Head of Legal Department, Digital Transformation Office 
• Michael Farrugia, Former Minister for Family and Social Solidarity and Home Affairs Minister, member of the Parliamentary Assembly 
• Ingrid Keller, Head of Health Security Unit, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
• Konstantinos Papachristou, Human Rights Advocate – Social Policy & Children’s Rights
• Mari Viro Moser, Co-Head of Global Health, International Affairs Division, Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, FOPH

16:15 - 16:45  Closing Session

The recap session will present the main outcomes of the conference, highlighting opportunities for the Council of Europe to further strengthen its contribution by leveraging its comparative advantages and added value in protecting health and promoting patients’ rights. It will also explore avenues for building strategic partnerships, fostering cross-sectoral synergies, encouraging the ratification and effective implementation of relevant conventions, and enhancing public awareness. 

• Rafael Benitez, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment
• Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law