On February 26, the Second Steering Committee meeting of the Council of Europe Project “Promoting social human rights as a key factor of sustainable democracy in Ukraine” took place online.

The event was attended by over 60 participants: representatives of public authorities, non-governmental organisations, academia, international organisations and the Council of Europe.

Mr Christophe Poirel, Human Rights Director, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe in his welcoming speech highlighted the Project’s achievements in the sphere of legislative analysis, harmonization of the national legislation with the European standards, conducting studies, improving the capacities with regard to reporting before the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), as well as increased interest in the European Social Charter (ESC) and ECSR case-law among professional groups. He also thanked all participants for their involvement in the reforms:

“I take your participation today as a sign of your willingness and commitments to be proactive with regard to social reforms.  We can see clearly now that there is many more to do and the need for follow-up Project to ensure continuation of the current social system reform. It's obviously a long-term process that requires a sustainable response. Particular attention should be paid to the social services system on the local level in a view of ongoing decentralisation reform”, said Mr Christophe Poirel.

The main objective of the event was to inform about the results of the Project in 2020, to approve the action plan till the end of its implementation period and to discuss plans and further cooperation activities between the Project and its partners in the field of social rights in Ukraine.

“Implementation of principles of the European Social Charter in legislation and improvement of the citizens living standards and well-being is a base requirement of integration to the European community. With the support of our partners we are actively going in this direction. During not easy 2020 the Ministry of Social Policy was focusing on ensuring the rights of people with disabilities, children, older persons, families with children, persons with no adequate resources”, said Ms Maryna Lazebna, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine.

“The cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Office of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights during the whole period of the Project’s implementation provides an opportunity to be sure that the proper level of realisation of social rights of Ukrainian citizens will be ensured”, said Ms Liudmyla Denisova, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights.

Ms Karin Lukas, President of the European Committee of Social Rights, joined the event and spoke about the situation with the implementation of the European Social Charter (revised) in Ukraine:

“The ultimate goal of implementing the European Social Charter is to better protect and promote social rights. Therefore, ratification of all provisions of the ESC and Additional Protocol that provides for the system of collective complaints is very important step for the country”, said Ms Karin Lukas.

Ms Margarita Galstyan, Project Manager of the Department of the European Social Charter, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe presented Project’s achievements during the implementation period. After that Ms Siuzanna Mnatsakanian, Senior Project Officer focused on plans for the remaining implementation period. The following has been planned: needs assessment with regard to protection of social rights of children according to the articles 7 and 17 of the ESC, report and roadmap presentation in this respect; expert analysis of the Article 22 of the Constitution of Ukraine with regard to social benefits limitation; expert analysis of legislation on social benefits in the light of non-enforcement of the court decisions (national and international courts). The work plan of the Project was approved by the Steering Committee.

Following the work plan’s approval, Ms Margarita Galstyan presented the concept of the Council of Europe project, which may follow the current one.

“We all agree that the project that is currently being implemented should continue. How we consider it: the new project will be built on the results achieved under the current one. It will contribute to the efficient implementation of the on-going reforms in the areas of social services, labour rights, employment, rights of persons with disabilities, children, older persons. Particular attention will be paid to enhancing the quality of social services delivered at the local level as well as to facilitating ratification of the Additional Protocol providing for the system of collective complaints”, said Ms Margarita Galstyan.

After the presentation, the Project partners highly evaluated the cooperation in 2020 and shared comments on the priorities of work for 2021.

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The Council of Europe Project "Promoting social human rights as a key factor of sustainable democracy in Ukraine" Project is being implemented since 1 August, 2019 for two years in sphere of the promotion and protection of social human rights, namely persons with disabilities (Article 15 of the European Social Charter (Charter), older persons (Article 23 of the Charter) and children (Articles 7, 17 of the Charter).