Social Rights

The Council of Europe is pleased to announce the publication of its brochure, “European Social Charter and the Environment” highlighting the crucial links between social rights and environmental protection across Europe.

This comprehensive factsheet provides insight into the European Social Charter, often considered the social constitution of Europe, and its application to environmental challenges.  The factsheet outlines how the Charter, as interpreted by the European Committee of Social Rights, addresses issues such as safe and healthy working conditions, protection of health, the right to housing, the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion and the need to support vulnerable communities in the face of triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

Key topics include:

• Clean, healthy and sustainable environment as integral to human rights;
• States’ legal obligations to enact environmental regulations, conduct risk assessments, take precautionary measures, inform and raise awareness about the risks, as well as  ensure public participation in environmental decision-making;
• The vital importance of access to safe drinking water, adequate housing, and affordable energy — all prerequisites for human dignity and social inclusion;
• The Charter’s role in guiding national policies and judicial practice for safeguarding both present and future generations’ rights.

This publication is also being released in the context of the 1st European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders, which will take place in strasbourg on 3-4 June 2026. This major event is part of the Reykjavik Process and will bring together leading figures in the fields of environmental protection and human rights. The forum will encourage discussion, share best practices and empower individuals defending environmental rights  at  local level.

For further details and registration, visit: 1st European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders – Official Website