Social Rights

 European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) v. Belgium, Complaint No. 195/2020 

The complaint was registered on 27 April 2019. It concerns 1§2 (the right to work), 11§1 and 3 (the right to protection of health), 12§1 (the right to social security), 13§1 (the right to social and medical assistance), 16 (the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection),17 (the right of children and young persons to social, legal and economic protection), 30 (the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion), 31 (the right to housing) and E (non-discrimination). ERRC alleges that, following a police operation on 4 and 5 April 2020 targeting two sites of Travellers in the municipality of Charleroi, families, including children, sick persons and a pregnant woman, had their caravans and property seized. ERRC alleges that these actions were carried out without consideration of the proportionality of the measure and without offering an alternative solution in return, such as provision of alternative accommodation, access to water, sanitation, electricity, food and medical services and have placed the affected families in direct exposure to hardships and health risks associated with Covid-19 in breach of the above-mentioned provisions of the Charter.