Employment, housing, health, education, social protection and welfare rights: the European Social Charter - often referred to as the Social Constitution of Europe – is celebrating its 60th anniversary as a guardian of fundamental social and economic rights. The Charter, together with the European Convention on Human Rights, are the two basic constituent parts of Europe’s system for the protection of human rights. The Charter places specific emphasis on the protection of vulnerable persons such as elderly people, children, migrants and the disabled.

“Social rights are a fundamental part of the overall system of collective guarantees for human rights protection in Europe. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted growing social inequalities in our societies. The Council of Europe’s Social Charter helps member states counter this trend by supporting the development of social rights systems which are effective even in times of crisis”, said Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić ahead of the anniversary.

As a Council of Europe international treaty, the Charter opened for signature in Turin (Italy) on 18 October 1961.The 60th anniversary will be celebrated by a high-level panel at the Palais de l’Europe (room 2, webcast link), on 18 October (10h30 –12h45). This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Revised version. The Secretary General will deliver a welcome statement. Opening statements will be provided by Péter Sztáray (State Secretary for Security Policy of Hungary); Rik Daems (President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe); Nicolas Schmit (European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights); Dunja Mijatović (Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe). A panel discussion will follow with high-level panellists from the Council of Europe, the European Union, and United Nations.

Articles by the experts:

• Eliane Chemla, Vice-President of the European Committee of Social Rights
• Krassimira Sredkova, Chair of the Bulgarian Association of Labour Law and Social Insurance of Bulgaria and former member of the European Committee of Social Rights
• Birgitta Nyström, former member of the European Committee of Social Rights
• Karin Lukas, President of the European Committee of Social Rights
• Matti Mikkola, Professor Emeritus in the University of Helsinki and Former President of the European Committee of Social Rights
• Raul Canosa Usera, Full Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, and former member of the European Committee of Social Rights
• Monika Schlachter, Professor for International and European Labour Law and Civil Law in the University of Trier, Germany, and former Vice President of the European Committee of Social Rights

More information:

• Programme
• Follow us LIVE 
• Web page dedicated to the 60th anniversary  
• Visit the picture gallery on the creation of the commemorative plaque of the signing of the European Social Charter, 18 October 1961, Turin (Italy)
• Declaration by the Committee of Ministers on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the European Social Charter
• European Social Charter

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