Tigran Karapetyan is the Head of Transversal Challenges and Multilateral Projects Division of the Council of Europe’s Department for the Implementation of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Co-operation Standards. He works in the CoE since 2013. He is an experienced lawyer with considerable experience in leading projects in the field of Human Rights, Rule of Law, Good Governance and Democracy. Prior to joining the Council of Europe, Mr Karapetyan lead the democratisation and good governance programming for the OSCE in Ukraine and before that served as a legal and project management expert on electoral and democracy issues for various international organisations. He also has significant experience as an in-house lawyer and a legal consultant in the commercial sector.
Health Literacy and Human Rights
Listening and empowering people to build trust
5 December 2025 
INAIL, via IV novembre 144, Rome, Italy
This event is organised by the National Office Against Racial Discrimination of Italy, in cooperation with the Council of Europe,
and with the support of the Minister for Family, Natality and Equal Opportunities of Italy, and the Minister of Health of Italy
Objective
This event will launch the pathway for the Rome Coalition on Health Literacy and Human Rights, a network to bring together political, institutional, and civil society actors, with the goal of promoting equity and inclusion.
Programme
Welcome coffee (10:00 - 11:00)
Opening Statements
11:00 - 11:45
Moderator:
- Assunta MORRESI, Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO)
Panellists:
- Eugenia ROCCELLA, Minister for Family, Natality and Equal Opportunities, Italy
- Orazio SCHILLACI, Minister of Health, Italy
- Rafael BENITEZ, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe
Introductory remarks
11:45 - 12:15
Moderator:
- Agnese Nadia CANEVARI, National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR), Italy
Panellists:
- Evis SALA, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Albania
- Vasiliki KARAOULI, Secretary Permanent, Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, Greece
Morning Summary
12:15 - 12:20
This session will recall the views and political commitments expressed during the morning and the shared intention to collaborate in the setting up of the Rome coalitition on Health Literacy and Human Rights with the support of the Council of Europe.
- Lorenzo MONTRASIO, National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR), Italy
Lunch (12:20 - 14:00)
Listening and empowering people to build trust
14:00 - 14:20
This session explores the stigma and discrimination faced by people and groups in vulnerable situations, and considers ways to better to listen, empower and protect them so that they can effectively exercise their right to the protection of health.
Moderator:
- Lee HIBBARD, Health Division, Council of Europe
Panellists:
- Kristine SØRENSEN, Global Health Literacy Academy, Denmark
- Guglielmo BONACCORSI, University of Florence, Italy
- Chiara LORINI, University of Florence, Italy
Listening and empowering people to build trust - Institutional perspectives
14:20 - 15:50
This session discusses how public institutions and government bodies listen, empower and protect people’s health, and considers how the Rome Coalition adds value to their efforts, both individually and collectively.
Moderators:
- Miguel TELO DE ARRIAGA, Directorate-General of Health, Portugal
Panellists:
- Luisa BORGIA, Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO)
- Robert GAJDA, Commission for Protection from Discrimination, Albania
- Tigran KARAPETYAN, Council of Europe
- Signe MEŽINSKA, Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health at the Council of Europe, Latvia
- Luciana TEOFILI, National Blood Center, Italy
Closing remarks and way forward
15:50- 16:00
- Mattia PERADOTTO, National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR), Italy
- Rafael BENITEZ, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe
Recordings
Related events and documents
Guide to Health Literacy
- Report "Health literacy is a human rights concern - A needs assessment and gap analysis of health literacy challenges and human rights" | by Kristine Sørensen, Global Health Literacy Academy
- Report "Improving health literacy at individual and organisational levels - Creating a solid alliance between stakeholders to promote human rights" | by Guglielmo Bonaccorsi and Chiara Lorini, Professors in Public Health at University of Florence
- Outcome document - Council of Europe Conference on Health Protection
- Factsheet - Right to protection of Health - Article 11 of the Revised European Social Charter
- Conference on Health Literacy and Human Rights: Trust building and equitable access to healthcare | 2023
- Conference on Health Literacy and Human Rights: Connecting policy with practice to promote inclusion and combat discrimination | 2024
Photos
Speakers & Moderators
Speakers and moderators are being confirmed progressively, with updates shared on this webpage as they become available.