Online training highlights role of national human rights and equality bodies in European Social Charter monitoring

Indietro Online training highlights role of national human rights and equality bodies in European Social Charter monitoring

On 4 February 2026, the Council of Europe’s Department of Social Rights held an online training session to strengthen the engagement of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and National Equality Bodies with the monitoring procedures of the European Social Charter. The session focused on how these institutions can contribute to both the reporting process and the collective complaints mechanism of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), including recent reforms to the Charter’s monitoring system.

Participants examined opportunities to submit comments on national reports for the 2025 reporting cycle, which covers key social rights such as fair working conditions, safe and healthy workplaces, fair remuneration, trade union rights, collective bargaining, and gender equality. Representatives from the ECSR, the Council of Europe Secretariat, and national institutions shared practical experiences on preparing submissions, using ECSR case law in national advocacy, and engaging in the follow-up to collective complaints decisions.

The President of the ECSR, Aoife Nolan, highlighted the crucial role these institutions play in the monitoring of the application of the European Social Charter at national level, by providing valuable local insight and data that can inform the ECSR’s decisions and conclusions.

In 2026, the ECSR will examine national reports of States Parties which have accepted the collective complaints procedure covering Group 1 provisions of the European Social Charter. In accordance with Rule 21A of the ECSR’s Rules, NHRIs and Equality Bodies may submit comments to the ECSR on national reports by 30 June 2026. In addition, NHRIs and Equality Bodies can also meaningfully engage with the ECSR during the examination of collective complaints and after decisions are adopted in the follow-up phase of the procedure.

The event forms part of the Council of Europe’s annual capacity-building efforts to enhance the contribution of NHRIs and Equality Bodies to the effective implementation of social and economic rights across Europe.

Programme