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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

I.CDDECS - TERMS OF REFERENCE

II.RELEVANT STANDARDS

III.SETTING PRIORITIES

IV.FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTATION - BY WHAT MEANS?

V.BUDGETARY MEANS

VI.PRIORITIES

PART II - CDDECS - PRIORITIES FOR 2014-2015

PROMOTING LEGAL STANDARDS AND ENHANCING THEIR IMPLEMENTATION

PROMOTING SOCIAL COHESION

PREVENTING AND COMBATTING VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION

GENDER EQUALITY AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

EQUAL AND EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO HUMAN RIGHTS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

WORK PROGRAMME FOR POST- 2015 PERIOD

Appendix I

 


PART I -  TERMS OF REFERENCE AND RELEVANT COE STANDARDS

 

I.            CDDECS - TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

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.

 

 

II.            RELEVANT STANDARDS

 

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.


 

III.            SETTING PRIORITIES

 

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.

 

IV.            FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTATION - BY WHAT MEANS?

 

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.

 

 

V.            BUDGETARY MEANS

 

According to its Terms of Reference, the budgetary means allocated for the CDDECS are

 

 

VI.            PRIORITIES

 

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: 

 


PART II - CDDECS - PRIORITIES FOR 2014-2015

 


Expected results

  1. Relevant European conventions are promoted and their implementation is enhanced.

 

Priorities for 2014-2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Expected results

 

  1. The Council of Europe Strategy and Action Plan for Social Cohesion (2010) are promoted and implemented by member states with particular attention to social rights

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

 

 

  1. access to economic and social rights by all, 
  2. social inclusion of all persons, and in specific of all persons in vulnerable situations, including migrants,
  3. social protection
  4. social and health care services
  5. youth unemployment.

 

 

 


 

PREVENTING AND COMBATTING VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION

 


 

Expected results

 

  1. The Council of Europe Standards against violence and discrimination on any grounds are promoted and implemented by MS.

 

Priorities for 2014-2015

  1. discrimination and stereotypes on any ground
  2. multiple discrimination
  3. abuse of persons in institutionalised settings, including children, elderly, persons with disabilities, national and linguistic minorities, LGBTI persons and migrants,
  4. violence against men, elderly,  LGBTI persons, national and linguistic minorities and migrants
  5. violence against women, children  and persons with disabilities (see below)
  6. access to justice of victims of violence and discrimination

 

 

 

Expected results

 

  1. The Council of Europe Strategy for Gender Equality 2014-2017 is promoted and implemented by member States;

 

Priorities for 2014-2015

 

 

  1. gender equality, 
  2. gender mainstreaming
  3. all forms of violence against women, and
  4. access to justice by women, and by women victims of violence in specific

 

 

 

 

 

Expected results

  1. The Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2012-2015 is promoted and implemented by Member States, and the Strategy 2016-2019 is submitted to the Committee of Ministers for adoption by 31 December 2015;

 

Priorities for 2014-2015

 

  1. the rights of the child in general,
  2. the violence against and abuse of  children, and
  3. access to justice by children, and by child victims of violence and abuse in specific

 

  1. ensure child friendly health care in line with the Council of Europe Guidelines on child friendly health care,
  2. ensure child friendly social services in line with the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2011)12 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on children’s rights and social services friendly to children and families, and
  3. explore how these two instruments effectively contribute to protecting and supporting child victims or witnesses of violence.

 

 


 

 

Expected results

 

  1. The Council of Europe Disability Action Plan 2006-2015 is promoted, implemented by member States, and in 2015 reviewed and evaluated by the Committee; a post-2015 disability framework is developed;

 

Priorities for 2014-2015

 

 

 

 

  1. the rights of persons with disabilities,
  2. violence against persons with disabilities (see above with regard abuse in the institutionalized setting), and
  3. access to justice by persons with disabilities, and as victims of violence in specific.

 

 

 


Expected results

 

  1. CDDECS has a long term work programme prepared for post-2015 period.

 

Priorities for 2014-2015

***


Appendix I

 

 

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

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:

 

  1. oversee, promote and review the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy and Action Plan for Social Cohesion (2010) and develop appropriate tools to promote social cohesion, combat discrimination, marginalisation, social exclusion and poverty, to foster social justice and the social inclusion of vulnerable groups including migrants, to promote social protection, including its health dimension, to support the families and enlarge the provision of social and health care services;
  2. support the implementation of the Gender Equality transversal programme, specifically by promoting and keeping under review the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the work of the Organisation; assisting the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy for Gender Equality 2014-2017; and promote measures to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women and to protect and support the victims;
  3. support the implementation of the transversal programme “Building a Europe for and with Children” and of the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2012-2015; support the preparation of the Strategy for 2016-2019; and promote measures to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against children and to protect and support child victims of violence;
  4. oversee the promotion, implementation, follow-up and final review of the Council of Europe Disability Action Plan 2006-2015, as well as the development of the Council of Europe post-2015 disability framework;
  1. contribute, promote and support in its field of competence the implementation of standards, in particular through the promotion of the relevant Council of Europe conventions and the work carried out by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), supporting States in the exchange of good practice to address the problems highlighted by monitoring mechanisms, taking into account the activities of other international organisations, in particular the European Union, the United Nations and the OSCE;
  2. carry out any further tasks on the basis of decisions that may be taken by the Committee of Ministers including with regard to the preparation and follow-up of Council of Europe conferences of ministers responsible for issues falling within its competence, in line with Resolution CM/Res(2011)7 on Council of Europe conferences of specialised ministers;
 
   

 

  1. in accordance with decisions CM/Del/Dec(2013)1168/10.2 of the Committee of Ministers, carry out, at regular intervals, within the limits of the available resources and bearing in mind its priorities, an examination of some or all of the Conventions for which it has been given responsibility[2], and contribute to the examination of other Conventions that are relevant for the performance of the CDDECS’ tasks,[3] in co-operation, where appropriate, with other competent steering committees and the relevant convention-based bodies, and report back to the Committee of Ministers.
 

Pillar/Sector/Programme

 

Pillars: Human Rights / Democracy

Sectors: Promoting Human Rights / Participation

Programmes: Equality and diversity / Racism and intolerance / Minorities / Children’s rights/ Strengthening social cohesion

 

Expected results

 
  1. the Council of Europe Strategy and Action Plan for Social Cohesion (2010) are promoted and implemented by member States, and in 2015 reviewed by the Committee;
  2. the Council of Europe Strategy for Gender Equality 2014-2017 is promoted and implemented by member States; supervision is ensured in particular of activities aimed at reducing all forms of violence against women and domestic violence in the member States; exchange of good practices are promoted;
  3. the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2012-2015 is promoted and implemented by member States, and the Strategy 2016-2019 is submitted to the Committee of Ministers for adoption by 31 December 2015; member States share experiences and examples of good practice on positive parenting and the provision of social and health care services to children and families; member States are supported in developing comprehensive and coherent strategies to eliminate violence against children and strengthening child-friendly mechanisms, services and systems;
  4. the 3rd Conference of Ministers responsible for Social Cohesion (Baku, 2015) adopts a political declaration that will serve as a major guideline for future social cohesion policies;[4]
  5. the Council of Europe Disability Action Plan 2006-2015 is promoted, implemented by member States, and in 2015 reviewed and evaluated by the Committee; a post-2015 disability framework is developed;
  6. relevant European conventions, including the European Code of Social Security (ETS No. 48), the 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) are promoted and their implementation is enhanced.
 

Composition

 

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.

 

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 at the charge of their corresponding administrative budgets:

 

  • Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe;
  • Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe;
  • European Court of Human Rights;
  • Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights;
  • Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe;
  • Council of Europe Development Bank;
  • Committees or other bodies of the Council of Europe engaged in related work, as appropriate;

The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and without defrayal of expenses:

  • European Union, including, as appropriate, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND);
  • Observer States to the Council of Europe: Canada, Holy See, Japan, Mexico, United States of America;
  • States Party to the European Cultural Convention that are not member States of the Council of Europe;
  • Countries concerned with the Council of Europe policy towards neighbourhood regions;
  • United Nations including its specialised agencies, programmes, funds and other entities;
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);
  • Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE);
  • Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues (NVC) under the aegis of the Nordic Council of Ministers;
  • European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and Conference of European Business (EUROBUSINESS) (“social partners”)

Observers:

  • Amnesty International;
  • Children’s Rights International Network (CRIN);
  • Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union (COFACE);
  • End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT international);
  • European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD);
  • European Disability Forum (EDF);
  • European Network of Ombudspeople for Children (ENOC);
  • European Roma[5] and Travellers Forum (ERTF);
  • European Women’s Lobby and Women against Violence in Europe (WAVE)
  • European Youth Forum (YFJ);
  • Human Rights Watch;
  • International Observatory of Juvenile Justice (OIJJ);
  • International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates;
  • Missing Children Europe;
  • Save the Children;
  • - European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET).

Working methods

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.

Subordinate structure

   

The CDDECS provides a co-ordinating supervising and monitoring role in the functioning of its subordinate body:

  • Committee of experts on the rights of people with disabilities (DECS-RPD) (see separate terms of reference)
  • Gender Equality Commission (DECS-GEC) (see separate terms of reference)
  • Committee of experts on the Council of Europe strategy for the rights of the child 2016-2019 (DECS-ENF) (see separate terms of reference)

 

   
     

Budgetary information*

2014

Meetings

per year

Number

of days

Members

Plenary

Bureau

Subordinate structures/
Working groups

Secretariat
(A, B)

2

3

48

138 200

44 400

-

1.25 A ; 1 B

2015

Meetings

per year

Number

of days

Members

Plenary

Bureau

Subordinate structures/
Working groups

Secretariat
(A, B)

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;

***


 

 

CDDECS

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.