Policymakers, experts and social partners gathered at the side event on Health literacy and Human Rights held on 18 March 2026 in Chișinău on the margins of the High-Level Conference on Social Rights.
In his opening remarks, Emil Ceban, Minister of Health of Moldova and Rafael Benitez, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment at the Council of Europe, stressed that health literacy is essential to make the right to health protection effective, as enshrined in Article 11 of the European Social Charter. They underlined the duty of states to remove barriers to healthcare, especially for vulnerable groups.
Health literacy is not only an individual responsibility but also a shared responsibility for institutions and society. Nearly half of Europeans face challenges in accessing or navigating health information and services, especially among the most vulnerable, which widens inequalities and increases societal costs. Providing clear, accessible and culturally adapted communication is critical to fight discrimination but also to restore trust between institutions and citizens.
The report presented by Kristine Sørensen, “Promoting health literacy and human rights to reduce stigma and discrimination,” demonstrates how low health literacy and stigma reinforce the exclusion of groups such as Roma, migrants, homeless people, persons with disabilities, LGBTI+, older persons, detainees, and youth. The report calls for targeted action plans and institutional transformation to advance human rights in practice.
Mr. Benitez also highlighted the Council of Europe cooperation project, supported by Italy, to develop and support health literacy pathways, with particular attention to vulnerable groups, encouraging cross-sectoral cooperation and capacity-building activities in all member states.
He highlighted the upcoming High-Level Conference on Health Literacy in Rome in December 2026, aiming at strengthening political commitment and partnerships in this field.
Report - Promoting health literacy and human rights to reduce stigma and discrimination
