Germany today ratified the Council of Europe’s Revised European Social Charter.
Since its adoption in 1996, the Council of Europe has been encouraging all member States to ratify the Revised Charter, because of its more modern and comprehensive nature, adding several new rights (right to housing and right to protection against poverty, among others).
It also updates certain rights already existing in the original 1961 Charter.
While Germany will not accept all the new rights in the Revised Charter, it will significantly expand its commitments compared to what they were under the 1961 Charter.
Following Germany’s ratification, 35 States are Parties to the Revised Charter, while eight remain bound by the 1961 Charter.
“This is a welcome development which can hopefully inspire the few Council of Europe member states which still not bound by the revised Charter* to ratify this fundamental social human rights instrument”, said Karin Lukas, President of the European Committee of Social Rights.
* those bound by the 1961 Charter: Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain and the UK; and those that have yet to ratify either of the two instruments: Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland.
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