Strasbourg, 16 September 2014CDDECS (2014)4
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL COHESION,
HUMAN DIGNITY AND EQUALITY
(CDDECS)
WORK PROGRAMME
2014-2015
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL COHESION,
HUMAN DIGNITY AND EQUALITY
(CDDECS)
WORK PROGRAMME
2014-2015
Contents
PART I - TERMS OF REFERENCE AND RELEVANT COE STANDARDS
IV.FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTATION - BY WHAT MEANS?
PART II - CDDECS - PRIORITIES FOR 2014-2015
PROMOTING LEGAL STANDARDS AND ENHANCING THEIR IMPLEMENTATION
PREVENTING AND COMBATTING VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION
GENDER EQUALITY AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
EQUAL AND EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO HUMAN RIGHTS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
WORK PROGRAMME FOR POST- 2015 PERIOD
According to its terms of reference, the tasks of the European Committee for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality (CDDECS) is to oversee and coordinate the inter-governmental work of the Council of Europe (CoE) in the fields of social cohesion, human dignity, equality and anti-discrimination, and to advice the Committee of Ministers (CM) on all questions within these areas.
The aim of this work is to:
These are to be achieved by contributing to the promotion of solidarity and the protection of human dignity, equality and equal opportunities for all, and the prevention and combatting of violence and discrimination on any grounds (see Appendix I).
The CDDECS will, based on the relevant CoE strategies - The Council of Europe Strategy and Action Plan for Social Cohesion (2010), the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2012-2015), the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy (2014-2017), and the Council of Europe Disability Action Plan (2006-2015) - and transversal perspectives, enhance implementation of the related standards and policies in the member states, and co-operate with other structures and bodies as appropriate.
In addition to supporting the implementation of the CoE strategies and action plans in the areas of social cohesion, rights of the child, gender equality and rights of persons with disabilities, the CDDECS is tasked with contributing to the promotion of the relevant CoE conventions and their implementation, the work carried out by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), and the findings of the other relevant monitoring mechanisms.
The main CoE conventions that are relevant for the performance of the CDDECS’ tasks are
The other conventions and relevant decisions by the Committee of Ministers, for which the CDDECS has been given responsibility, are listed in the appendix I of its Terms of Reference.
Considering the wide scope of its terms of reference, as well as the transversal nature of the relevant issues, the CDDECS will prioritise its work for the two years of its current mandate by selecting topics and activities that are of particular relevance for the member states and where the Council of Europe has an added value.
During the first meeting of the CDDECS on 3-5 June 2014 two Round Tables with panellists from different disciplines and backgrounds were organised: “Guaranteeing equality and equal dignity for all” and “Making justice accessible for all”.
Following the general debates on future activities and these Round Tables, the secretariat prepared a draft work programme 2014-2015 for discussion, which was also circulated for written comments.
All the themes included in the work programme contribute towards the achievement of cohesive and inclusive societies by promoting equality, non-discrimination, tolerance, participation and representation. The current work programme is for the mandate period of 2014-2015. Even if not all of the priorities listed can be fully concluded within the time frame, but the programme serves as a basis for the longer term work programme.
Within the CoE, there is a comprehensive and ground breaking set of legal standards to address challenges within the CDDECS area of responsibility. However, the standards are not efficiently implemented by the member states (MS), partly because they are not sufficiently known.
Therefore, and in order to achieve more cohesive and inclusive societies, to remove obstacles to equality and to ensure human dignity for all, the work of the CDDECS has to focus on the effective implementation of the legal standards in all MSs, at all levels of public administration and services: national, regional and local level, by all civil servants such as law enforcement personnel, judiciary and other legal professionals as well as personnel in social and health services, and within general population, including the victims of violence or discriminatory measures, attitudes and practices.
The implementation of standards is a task for the MSs. It is to be achieved through national legislation, policies and programmes. An important part of the implementation is awareness-raising and promotion so that citizens are aware of their rights and related mechanisms. These can be done through events and campaigns, outreach on local level, specific training sessions and human rights education in general. Also, the standards should be made easily available in various accessible formats.
The CDDECS can contribute to awareness-raising and accessibility of existing international and European standards by
As a first priority should be the compilation of relevant data in addition to the specific time relevant tasks assigned by the CM to CDDECS. Taking into account the amount of time left within the current mandate, further substantial work on removal of all identified obstacles will be left for the following mandate period.
In order to draw from the wide experience already gathered in the areas of responsibility of the CDDECS, and to save resources, the secretariat will cooperate with other relevant CoE bodies, the UN, the OSCE and the European Union to ensure that no duplicated work is carried out within the CDDECS.
According to its Terms of Reference, the budgetary means allocated for the CDDECS are
The priorities are listed according to the expected results to be achieved by the CDDECS as outlined in its terms of reference. They are based on the common focus on achieving social cohesion, on guaranteeing equality and equal dignity for all and on combating all forms of violence and discrimination on any basis. More specific and detailed work on the subject areas is done with the support and coordination by the CDDECS by its subordinate bodies, in accordance to their respective mandates:
Expected results
Priorities for 2014-2015
Expected results
2.1.The Council of Europe Strategy and Action Plan for Social Cohesion is reviewed by the Committee at the end of 2015 following a thorough review of the current strategy.
Priorities for 2014-2015
PREVENTING AND COMBATTING VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION
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Expected results
Priorities for 2014-2015
Expected results
Priorities for 2014-2015
Expected results
Priorities for 2014-2015
Expected results
Priorities for 2014-2015
Expected results
Priorities for 2014-2015
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Terms of reference
European Committee for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality (CDDECS)
Set up by the Committee of Ministers under Article 17 of the Statute of the Council of Europe and in accordance with Resolution CM/Res(2011)24 on intergovernmental committees and subordinate bodies, their terms of reference and working methods.
Type of committee: Steering Committee
Terms of reference valid from: 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2015
Main tasks |
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Under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, the CDDECS will oversee and co-ordinate the intergovernmental work of the Council of Europe in the fields of social cohesion, human dignity, equality and anti-discrimination, and advise the Committee of Ministers on all questions within its area of competence.
With the aim of securing the full enjoyment of and access to human rights, including social and economic rights, by all members of society, reducing the vulnerability of people and strengthening the fabric of sustainable democratic societies, the CDDECS will contribute to the promotion of solidarity and protection of human dignity, equality and equal opportunities for all, and the prevention and combatting of violence and discrimination on any ground. On the basis of the relevant Council of Europe strategies[1] and taking due account of relevant transversal perspectives, the CDDECS will enhance implementation of the related standards and policies in the member States and co-operate with other structures and bodies as appropriate. In particular, the CDDECS will:
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Pillar/Sector/Programme |
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Pillars: Human Rights / Democracy Sectors: Promoting Human Rights / Participation Programmes: Equality and diversity / Racism and intolerance / Minorities / Children’s rights/ Strengthening social cohesion |
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Expected results |
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Composition |
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Members: Governments of member States are invited to designate one representative of the highest possible rank and expertise in the relevant fields, with responsibility at the national level for the planning, development and implementation of policies relevant to the work of the Committee and appointed by their governments to co-ordinate at national level all elements of government policy relevant to the work of the Committee. The Council of Europe will bear the travel and subsistence expenses of one representative from each member State (two in the case of the State whose representative has been elected Chair). Member States may send other representatives without defrayal of expenses. Each member of the committee shall have one vote. Where a government designates more than one member, only one of them is entitled to take part in the voting. |
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In accordance with decisions CM/Del/Dec(2013)1168/10.2 of the Committee of Ministers, in cases where there is no convention-based body including all the Parties, non-member States are invited to take part, with a right to vote, in the committee meetings pertaining to the conventions to which they are Parties.
Participants:
The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and without defrayal of expenses:
Observers:
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Working methods |
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Meetings:
48 members, 2 meetings in 2014, 3 days 48 members, 2 meetings in 2015, 3 days
Bureau: 9 members, 3 meetings in 2014, 2 days 9 members, 3 meetings in 2015, 2 days The rules of procedure of the Committee are governed by Resolution CM/Res(2011)24 on intergovernmental committees and subordinate bodies, their terms of reference and working methods.
The Committee will also appoint a Gender Equality Rapporteur from amongst its members. |
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Subordinate structure |
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The CDDECS provides a co-ordinating supervising and monitoring role in the functioning of its subordinate body:
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Budgetary information*
2014
Meetings per year |
Number of days |
Members |
Plenary € |
Bureau € |
Subordinate structures/ |
Secretariat |
2 |
3 |
48 |
138 200 |
44 400 |
- |
1.25 A ; 1 B |
2015
Meetings per year |
Number of days |
Members |
Plenary € |
Bureau € |
Subordinate structures/ |
Secretariat |
2 |
3 |
48 |
138 200 |
44 400 |
- |
1.25 ; 1 B |
*The costs presented above take into consideration the per diem, travel, interpretation, translation and document printing. Costs calculated on the basis of the per diem and recharged services costs at their 2014 level.
Appendix 1 – Relevant Committee of Ministers’ decision and list of conventions
CM/Del/Dec(2013)1168/10.2 (Review of Council of Europe conventions – Report by the Secretary General)
9. [The Deputies] instructed the steering and ad hoc committees to carry out, at regular intervals, within the limits of the available resources and bearing in mind the priorities of each committee, an examination of some or all of the conventions for which they have been given responsibility, in co-operation, where appropriate, with the relevant convention-based bodies, in order to:
- propose ways of improving the visibility, impact and efficiency of some or all of the conventions for which they have been given responsibility;
- draw the attention of member States to the relevant conventions;
- where necessary, identify any operational problems or obstacles to ratification of the relevant conventions, and draw the attention of member States to reservations which impact substantively on the effectiveness of their implementation;
- encourage States to regularly examine the possibility and/or desirability of becoming a Party to new Council of Europe conventions;
- assess the necessity or advisability of drafting amendments or additional protocols to the conventions for which they have been given responsibility or drafting supplementary conventions;
- and to report back to the Committee of Ministers;
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CDDECS |
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12 |
European Interim Agreement on Social Security Schemes Relating to Old Age, Invalidity and Survivors |
13 |
European Interim Agreement on Social Security other than Schemes for Old Age, Invalidity and Survivors |
14 |
European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance |
20 |
Agreement on the Exchange of War Cripples between Member Countries of the Council of Europe with a view to Medical Treatment |
33 |
Agreement on the Temporary Importation, free of duty, of Medical, Surgical and Laboratory Equipment for use on free loan in Hospitals and other Medical Institutions for purposes of Diagnosis or Treatment |
38 |
European Agreement on Mutual Assistance in the matter of Special Medical Treatments and Climatic Facilities |
40 |
Agreement between the Member States of the Council of Europe on the issue to Military and Civilian War-Disabled of an International Book of Vouchers for the repair of Prosthetic and Orthopaedic Appliances |
59 |
European Agreement on the Instruction and Education of Nurses |
64 |
European Agreement on the Restriction of the Use of certain Detergents in Washing and Cleaning Products |
68 |
European Agreement on Au Pair Placement |
78 |
European Convention on Social Security |
78A |
Supplementary Agreement for the Application of the European Convention on Social Security |
83 |
European Convention on the Social Protection of Farmers |
93 |
European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers |
154 |
Protocol to the European Convention on Social Security |
197 |
Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings |
210 |
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence |
[1] The new Council of Europe Strategy for Social Cohesion, the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2012-2015) and the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017.
[2] Cf. Relevant decision of the Committee of Ministers (CM/Del/Dec(2013)1168/10.2) and list of Conventions in Appendix 1.
[3] European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ETS No.148), the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (ETS No. 157), the Revised European Social Charter (CETS No. 163), the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS No. 197), the Convention on the protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (CETS No. 201), and the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CETS No. 210).
[4] Subject to the authorisation by the Committee of Ministers to hold this conference.
[5] The term “Roma” used at the Council of Europe refers to Roma, Sinti, Kale and related groups in Europe, including Travellers and the Eastern groups (Dom and Lom), and covers the wide diversity of the groups concerned, including persons who identify themselves as Gypsies.