On 9 March 2026, at the invitation of the State University of Trade and Economics, Iryna Ostapa, Senior Officer of the Council of Europe project “Strengthening the social dimension in Ukraine” held a lecture-meeting for second-year students of the Faculty of International Trade and Law.

During the meeting, Iryna Ostapa presented the activities of the Council of Europe project “Strengthening the social dimension in Ukraine”, including its objectives, main areas of work, results, and its role in supporting reforms in the field of social and labour rights in Ukraine in line with the standards of the Council of Europe. Particular emphasis was placed on the relevance of these reforms in the context of the challenges caused by the war, as well as in the framework of Ukraine’s European integration.

Special attention was given to the system of the European Social Charter (revised), often referred to as the “social constitution” of Europe. Students learned about the rights enshrined in this treaty, its monitoring mechanisms, including the collective complaints procedure, as well as the work of the European Committee of Social Rights, whose case law shapes the interpretation and application of the Charter’s provisions.

The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the importance for future lawyers of deepening their knowledge of the European Social Charter and the practice of the European Committee of Social Rights, and of applying this knowledge in their professional activities.