The Council of Europe is organising a high-level side event, on 24 February 2026, in the margins of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, which fill focus on bridging the outcomes of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha 2025, with the High-Level Conference on Social Rights scheduled in Chișinău, in March 2026.
This 60 minutes session will feature a high – level discussion including Mr. Alain Berset, Secretary General, Council of Europe, Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director General, ILO, Ministers and other UN leaders.
The event will address how investing in social rights including decent work, housing, social protection, health, and youth opportunities can be reshaped as powerful tool for rebuilding public trust and fostering democratic security amid current societal and geopolitical challenges. With political prioritisation of social commitments varying across states, the event will also focus on translating the social development targets set in the Doha Political Declaration into Europe’s legislative and practical framework.
The side event’s objective is to transform global ambitions into actionable commitments under the European Social Charter, tighten cooperation between the UN and European frameworks, and reinforce that social rights remain central to social justice and democratic resilience.
Tél. +33 (0)3 90 21 49 61
www.coe.int/socialcharter
