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Strasbourg, 6 February 2015CDDECS (2014) RAP 4 final

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL COHESION,

HUMAN DIGNITY AND EQUALITY

(CDDECS)

 

 

2ND MEETING

 

18-20 November 2014

 

 

 

Council of Europe, Strasbourg

Palais de l’Europe, Room 11

(2nd floor)

Avenue de l’Europe

 

 

 

FULL REPORT

 

 

 


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CDDECS

The European Committee for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality (CDDECS) is responsible for overseeing the Council of Europe’s intergovernmental work in the areas mentioned in its title. It will contribute to the protection of human dignity, equality and equal opportunities for all, and the prevention and combating violence and discrimination on any ground, in order to create societies that do not generate exclusion.

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Item 1     Opening of the meeting by the chairperson

The European Committee for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality (CDDECS) held its 2nd meeting from 18 to 20 November 2014 in Strasbourg.

 

Item 2     Adoption of the draft annotated agenda and the draft order of Business

The agenda and order of business were adopted as set out in Appendix 1 to this report.

 

Item 3     Implementation of the CDDECS work programme

 

3.1. Work programme activities and priorities – results of the Survey and the next steps

The CDDECS was invited to discuss the proposals made by the Member States for the short term and long term activities, based on the survey results, and to decide which priority activities will be implemented.

 

The chair presented the following items (see reference documents)

 

The chair proposed a list of six activities for 2015, based on the survey results:

 

First half of 2015

 

Second half of 2015

 


During the discussion the following issues were brought up:

 

With regard the specific working groups:

 

Roundtable discussion on social inclusion of all persons and in particular of all persons in vulnerable situations and effectiveness of rights

 

Review of the social cohesion strategy and action plan

 

Exchange on good practices against discrimination and stereotypes on any ground,

 


Hearing on social inclusion of all persons, and in particular of all persons in vulnerable situations, as a follow up to the roundtable discussion earlier

 

Roundtable discussion on the role of equality bodies, national human rights institutions and ombudsmen in promoting equality

 

Study/white book on existing materials for awareness on equality/discrimination and human rights for social workers, police, health sector professionals and legal professionals etc.

 

6 ad hoc working groups were formed to prepare “concept papers”, including ideas, possible speakers, experts etc. for each item planned by the end of January 2015. Volunteers were requested by 10 December 2014 (volunteer member States listed in bold below).

 

a.“Concept paper” on roundtable discussion on “Social inclusion of all persons and in particular of all persons in vulnerable situations and effectiveness of rights” during the 3rd CDDECS plenary in May 2015.

Bulgaria, Finland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Montenegro and Switzerland and the INGO (this topic is connected to the group d!).

 

b.“Concept paper” on review of the Social Cohesion Strategy and Action Plan.

Belgium, France, Poland, Russia and Turkey

 

c.“Concept paper” on exchange of good practices against discrimination and stereotypes on any ground.

Austria, Estonia, The “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Portugal and Spain

 

d.“Concept paper” on hearing on social inclusion of all persons, and in particular of all persons in vulnerable situations.  Connected to the results of the first roundtable discussion (group a).

 

e.“Concept paper” on roundtable discussion on the role of equality bodies, national human rights institutions, and ombudsmen in promoting equality.

Albania, Ireland, Moldova, the Netherlands and Romania

 

f.“Concept paper” on feasibility study/green book on existing materials for awareness on equality/discrimination and human rights for social workers, police, health sector professionals and legal professionals etc.

France

 

The Bureau of the CDDECS will discuss the concept papers in its meeting in February 2015.

 

The chair proposed for 2016 activities, as a follow up to 2015 activities the following:

 

The CDDECS will discuss in its third meeting in May 2015 its possible post-2015 agenda.

 

3.2. Report from the Conference “Social Cohesion – achievements and challenges in times of crisis”, held in Baku in September 2014

The Vice-chair summarised the discussion that took place in the Baku conference. Several other members of the CDDECS also participated in the conference.

 

Among the main topics discussed included the increased importance of social cohesion in times of crisis, increased difficulties facing the most vulnerable population groups (youth unemployment, child poverty, discrimination resurgence of hate speech .... ), and the action required in this area. Examples of good practice in the implementation of the social cohesion strategy were presented; the question of the use of indicators to measure progress was asked. International cooperation was considered important, as was the cross-sectoral implementation.

 

The need to strengthen states’ role in the implementation was stressed as well as the importance of various programs of action within and with the help of the EU, various twinning projects, work with international organisations and other bodies while avoiding duplication of the work done. Also the need to better implement the tools provided by the Council of Europe, including the Istanbul convention was considered important.

 

Short discussion followed, during which the Belgium proposed a new strategy on social cohesion and requested ministerial conference on social cohesion to be organised, as proposed by the Azerbaijan previously.

 

3.3. Secretary General’s report on state of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe

The committee was invited to take note of the Secretary General’s report and the recommendations made to the Council of Europe bodies and member states in his follow-up document. This was to give further guidance to the discussion on the work program priorities.

 

The Russian Federation objected to the inclusion of the report and follow-up document to the agenda of the CDDECS. As no discussion was intended on this agenda point, the delegation was asked to provide their comments in writing. (Appendix 4)

 

3.4. Exchange of views with the chairpersons of subordinate bodies of the CDDECS

 

The CDDECS presented its draft programme of activities for 2015-2016 to the representatives of its subordinate committees asked to specify the programme of their work.

 

Committee of Experts on the Rights of People with Disabilities (DECS-RPD)

DECS-RPD chairperson presented the Council of Europe Disability Action Plan 2006-2015. The Council of Europe was the first international organisation to draft such an encompassing document on the rights of persons with disabilities already in 2006. The Action Plan aims to serve as a practical tool to guide member states in developing strategies to bring about full participation of people with disabilities in society and ultimately mainstreaming disability throughout all policy areas and programmes.

 

The core of the plan consists of fifteen action lines that set out key objectives and specific actions to be implemented by member states. The action lines are Participation in political and public life; Participation in cultural life; Information and communication; Education; Employment, vocational guidance and training; The built environment; Transport; Community living; Health care; Rehabilitation; Social protection; Legal protection; Protection against violence and abuse; Research and development and Awareness raising. In addition, there are five crosscutting aspects: Women and girls with disabilities; People with disabilities in need of high level of support; Children and young people with disabilities; Ageing of people with disabilities and People with disabilities from minorities and migrants.

 

Especially countries outside the EU put strong importance on the Council of Europe Action Plan in their disability- related work. A total of 36 countries have drafted and implemented National Action Plans on disability based on the action lines of the Council of Europe Action Plan. 40 countries have declared having a coordinated approach to support the implementation of the Council of Europe Disability Action Plan.

 

The DECS-RPD will evaluate the Action Plan and the results will be presented to the Committee of Ministers in the end of 2015, together with the new plan for years 2016-2020.

The legal status of the Disability Action Plan is a recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to the member States. It is meant to guide the work and assist in the unofficial monitoring within the Member States, steering committees and the Council of Europe in general taking the persons with disabilities in the consideration in all the activities.

 

The most important role the Council of Europe committees, including CDDECS have with regard to the Action Plan is the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities within their work. The subordinate bodies count on steering committees for guidance. Cooperation and synergy between the various committees is needed.

 

Gender Equality Commission (DECS-GEC)

The Secretary of DECS-GEC informed members about progress with the implementation of the first Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy for the years 2014-2017, which was adopted in December 2013. The strategy aims to achieve the advancement and empowering of women and the effective realisation of gender equality in the Council of Europe member states through activities around five strategic objectives. Those objectives are combating Gender Stereotypes and Sexism; preventing and combating Violence against Women; guaranteeing Equal Access of Women to Justice; achieving Balanced Participation of Women and Men in Political and Public Decision-Making and achieving Gender Mainstreaming in all policies and measures.

 

The entry into force in August 2014 of Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic violence (Istanbul convention) marks a milestone achievement towards the advancement of gender equality. The monitoring of the implementation of the Convention will start in 2016.

 

Co-operation and synergies have been reinforced with the various steering committees and monitoring mechanisms to ensure an integrated approach and introduce a gender equality perspective in all policies and at all levels. Gender Equality Rapporteurs (GERs) have been appointed in all steering committees, other institutional bodies including at the Committee of Ministers level as well as in some of the monitoring mechanisms.

Work and activities towards the achievement of one of the objectives of the Strategy – combatting gender stereotypes and sexism -as well as two events focusing on equal access of women to justice have facilitated implementation of standards by providing opportunities for exchange of experience and good practice ideas and information as well as networking opportunities among relevant stakeholders. Practical tools such as compilations of good practices handbooks/toolkits on the implementation of Council of Europe standards in the area of gender equality have been made available to member States.

Under current arrangements, the Council of Europe covers travel and subsistence allowances only for 16 DECS-GEC members.  To ensure all member states can participate and benefit from the Council of Europe work in the area of gender equality, a Network of National Focal Points (NFP)s consisting of one representative from each member state was set up. The recurring question on the possibility to having all 47 members paid by the Council of Europe is relevant and if that was the case, it will enable all member states to participate, contribute and benefit from Council of Europe activities on an equal footing.

The implementation and impact of the Gender Equality Strategy will be evaluated by the DECS-GEC annually and a report of the activities is submitted to the CM.

The DECS-GEC counts on the support of CDDECS to strengthen transversal cooperation, increase the visibility of gender equality standards and ensure their implementation in the member States. CDDECS can play an important role in communication with, and support from the Committee of Ministers for the work of the organisation in the area of gender equality.

 

The legal status of the Gender Equality Strategy is a common political commitment, as it was prepared in cooperation with the member States, to advance the gender equality agenda as part of the efforts upholding democracy and human rights. It was adopted by the CM, but there is no formal country monitoring process on the implementation.

 

Committee of Experts on the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (DECS-ENF)

DECS-ENF secretariat recalled the priorities of the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2012-2015). The strategy takes account of the progress achieved and lessons learned during the two previous strategy cycles. Member states, parliamentarians, children, other international organisations and civil society contributed to its design. The strategy focuses on four main objectives. Those objectives are promoting child-friendly services and systems (in the areas of justice, health and social services); eliminating all forms of violence against children (including sexual violence, trafficking, corporal punishment and violence in schools); guaranteeing the rights of children in vulnerable situations (such as those with disabilities, in detention, in alternative care, migrant or Roma children) and promoting child participation.

 

A midterm review of the implementation of the strategy took place in a conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia in March 2014. One of the main results of the strategy is the increased attention paid to fighting sexual violence against children. The Council of Europe ONE in FIVE Campaign (continued until the end of 2015) has activated the member States to stop sexual violence against children. Almost all member States have signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the Lanzarote Convention) and 34 members States have ratified it (as of 9 December 2014). Also the monitoring on the implementation of the convention done by the Lanzarote Committee is ongoing, based on thematic questionnaires. The first monitoring round focuses on “sexual abuse of children in the circle of trust”.

 

The DECS-ENF has a narrow mandate. It only covers work to assess and evaluate the current strategy, the consultation of member states and other stake holders and the development of the new strategy 2016-2019 by the end of 2015. The new strategy should be continuation on the existing work and concentrate on child friendly social services and justice, child participation and sexual abuse. New themes such as austerity effects on children, child poverty and children in digital era are being considered. Equally important are the questions relating to hypersexuality in media, especially girls, and the status and rights of children placed in institutions.

In December 2014 a questionnaire will be sent out by the DECS-ENF on the assessment of the old strategy and on the possible elements to the future strategy. The member states have 3 months to reply after which the secretariat will prepare draft report and draft strategy for the 2nd meeting on 12-13 May 2015. For member States that haven’t nominated a member to the DECS-ENF or where the member does not represent the government (e.g. ombudspersons for children), the questionnaire will be sent to the CDDECS members. The strategy will then be approved before November 2015 and sent to the CM via the CDDECS.

The network of national children’s rights coordinators was set up at the time when no committee on rights of the child existed at within the Council of Europe. In the future the need for the coordinators and a committee for rights of the child with full 47 member States membership needs to be considered. Currently 1/3 of the committee’s members and coordinators are the same, so there is overlap.

DECS-ENF sees its work as transversal and fitting together with the work of the CDDECS. Cooperation especially in the areas of human dignity and equality can bring added value.

The legal status of the Strategy for the Rights of the Child is a vision and framework for the Council of Europe’s role and action in the area of children’s rights. Based on the strategy the Council of Europe provides guidance and support to its member states on how best to bridge gaps between the rights and the reality of children.

 

Short discussion followed. Replies to the questions are included in the text above.

Item 4     Gender Equality - Gender Equality Commission (DECS-GEC)

 

4.1. Exchange of views with the Gender Equality Commission

A joint meeting with the members of the DECS-GEC and the CDDECS was organised.

 

The Vice-chair of the CDDECS summarised the mandate and program of work of the CDDECS, the questionnaire on priority actions and its results guiding the activities for 2015 and beyond. Any overlap is to be avoided with regard to the work of the subordinate bodies.

 

The Chair of the DECS-GEC agreed on the importance of co-operation and regular exchange of information, and he expressed readiness of the GEC to contribute to the CDDECS work in areas of common interest.

 

The GEC Chairperson raised the issue of the negative impact on the work of the GEC caused by that fact that only 16 GEC members’ travel and subsistence expenses were reimbursed by the Council of Europe, and the need to ensure that all 47 member states participate and contribute to the work and activities of the Council of Europe in the area of gender equality.  He asked for support from the CDDECS in this respect.

 

In the following short discussion Austria (CDDECS) and Portugal (GEC) noted that it is a worrying sign that the GEC has been reduced to 16 paid members, from previous 47 members, and stressed that this needs to change from 2016 onwards whit the new Terms of reference or the work in the field of gender equality will suffer considerably.  Poland (CDDECS) noted that it would be useful if other activities of the Council of Europe were as well financed as the gender equality seems to be currently.

 

Ms. Catherine BIJ DE VAATE, Policy Adviser, Institute on Gender Equality and Women’s History (ATRIA) made a presentation about gender equality and gender mainstreaming. She focused on the basics of Gender Equality. Also a part of a video “Starter kit for sustainable gender equality” prepared by SALAR, Swedish Association of Local and Regional Authorities (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYikioYiilU) was shown. It is clear from the presentation and video that achieving equality in practice does not require a financial investment but a political will for changing perspectives and attitudes.

 

4.2. GEC’s Annual Report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017

The DECS-GEC secretariat presented the Annual Report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017.

 

A short discussion followed, during which Ireland (CDDECS) proposed that in the future ample time was to be found in the agenda of the CDDECS to discuss the annual reports of all three subordinate committees in order to have a clear idea of their current work and to be able to give feedback, if necessary, before endorsing the reports and forwarding them to the CM.

 

Ireland (CDDECS) also proposed to edit Conclusion 1 (page 11 in the abridged report) in a way that the very proper concern to ensure that initiatives in gender equality and women’s rights and work with regard violence against women do not result in new international instruments with lower standards than currently in existence. The Council of Europe should be presented as a source of expertise and as being willing to assist and engage with other actors in the pursuit of common goals. A text amended was provided to the DECS-GEC secretariat and the final report was amended accordingly.

 

The CDDECS took note of the GEC’s Annual Report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017 and decided to forward it to the Committee of Ministers.

 

Item 5     Rights of the child – DECS-ENF

Mr Pavel Astakhov, Children’s Rights Commissioner for the President of Russia, upon invitation of the Russian delegation, participated in the meeting of the CDDECS and made a short presentation on the Russia’s National Strategy on integrating efforts of family, society and State for the purposes of child welfare. (Full report in Appendix 5). He summarized recent improvements with regard children in institutions, orphans, adoptive families, social programs in Russia etc.

 

5.1. Work done by the Committee of Experts on the Council of Europe strategy for the rights of the child 2016-19 (DECS-ENF)

The CDDECS took note of the information provided by the secretariat on the activities done by the DECS-ENF at its first meeting on 13-14 November 2014 (also see above under Item 3.4).

 

DECS-ENF is preparing the new strategy for the rights of child. The new strategy should address all the Council of Europe, but only include topics that the Council of Europe is actually working on, topics under which actual results can be delivered. Some topics have been discontinued or diminished within the Council of Europe, such as migration and health and there is no longer staff to work on these issues, which has to be taken into account. The strategy lines must be relevant to the priorities and work of the Council of Europe and also be cost-effective.

5.2. Draft Questionnaires on child friendly social services and child friendly health care

The questionnaires were initiated originally by the predecessor of the CDDECS, the CDCS in 2013. They are included in the work programme of the CDDECS for 2014-2015, as preparation for the collection of good practices in the MS on how to ensure

 

The aim of the collections is to explore how these two instruments effectively contribute to protecting and supporting child victims or witnesses of violence.

 

Ms Ana Isabel GUERREIRO, consultant, presented the questionnaires into detail.

 

The CDDECS decided to send the revised version of the questionnaire on child friendly social services to the member States by 15 December 2014 for replies by end of March 2015.

 

With regard to the draft questionnaire on child friendly health care, the CDDECS supported the proposal made by the secretariat to work in cooperation with WHO.

 

The CDDECS decided to further discuss the draft questionnaire on child friendly health care during the next CDDECS bureau meeting in February 2015.

 

5.3. Latest developments within the children’s rights division of the Council of Europe

The Secretariat informed the CDDECS about the follow-up to Recommendation Rec(2006)19 on policy to support positive parenting, including an event on Realising children’s rights through empowering parents & families” organised with the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre on 2-4 December 2015 in Galway, Ireland.

 

Item 6     Rights of people with disabilities – DECS-RPD

 

6.1. Work done by the Committee of Experts on the Rights of People with Disabilities (DECS-RPD)

The CDDECS took note of the information provided by the Secretariat on the activities done by the DECS-RPD at its first meeting on 1-3 October 2014 (also see above under Item 3.4).

 

The DEDCS-RPD is tasked with evaluating the Action Plan and Strategy on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The evaluation will be based on partly on voluntary reports by member States and other actors. During the evaluation the impact of the 15 individual action lines is examined. What changes have taken place since 2006 in legislation and in practice, what has not developed as expected, what new or otherwise important areas of life are not covered by the action lines, such as right to sexual life of persons with disabilities. Access to justice by persons with disabilities is a great challenge, legal capacity is a big issue as it is the basis for access to any rights. Also important are the questions relating to guardianship and wardship in member States.

 

The implementation of the Action Plan is examined on several levels. The evaluation is done by the member States and by civil society but also by an independent expert, who will prepare a report. (In addition, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is preparing its own report and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA) is looking into this area). The evaluation reports come out together. Based on the results the committee will create a new roadmap. The roadmap will be sent to the CDDECS for approval before being sent to the CM.

 

A short discussion followed, during which it was proposed that the CDDECS give guidance on the work of the DECS-RPD and for example on the format of the new document. People with Disabilities should be included transversally to all CDDECS and Council of Europe activities and any new document should be in line with the UNCRPD, although higher standards are also possible. Cooperation and coordination with different parts of the Council of Europe should be increased as persons with disabilities are not one homogenous group but consists of the children, youth, the old, women, minorities, LGTBI etc. Many persons with disabilities face multiple discrimination in their daily lives. Disability view should be included in all the strategies and work within the Council of Europe, especially with DECS-ENF and DECS-GEC.

 

The replies to the rest of the questions are included in the text above.

 

6.2. Recommendation 361 (2014) – “Promoting equal opportunities for people with disabilities and their participation at local and regional levels”

The CM has requested the CDDECS to provide a reply to the Recommendation 361 (2014) – “Promoting equal opportunities for people with disabilities and their participation at local and regional levels”.

 

DECS-RPD will prepare a reply and it will be circulated for possible comments by the CDDECS in January 2015. Deadline for the reply to the CM is 31.1.2015.

 

Item 7     Exchanges of views

 

7.1. European Social Charter (ESC)

The CDDECS had an exchange of views with Mr Regis BRILLAT, Head of Department and Executive Secretary of the European Committee of Social Rights. The exchange had focus on the High-level Conference on the European Social Charter in Turin on 17-18 October 2014 and the “Turin Process”.

 

To date 43 member States have ratified the Charter, only Portugal and France have accepted all the provisions of the charter. The monitoring of the implementation of the Charter is done by the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) with its 15 independent experts. Currently the negative effects of economic crisis on the access to social rights is evident, even though it is clear that social rights are prerequisites for the full enjoyment of civil and political rights. The situation of youth, migrant workers, unemployment and its effect on social rights was stressed. The solution to the current decline of social rights is to have social rights treated on the same level as civil and political rights and that all work is be based on rights (rights based model).

 

European Social Charter is one of the priorities of SG of the Council of Europe. The charter is central to the three pillars of the Council of Europe, namely human rights, democracy and rule of law. The next 5 years Council of Europe is going to work hard to ensure the access to social rights. This process was started in the Turin conference (The Turin Process). The conference had high level participation (including 15 ministers), together with the civil society and charter mechanism.

 

Belgium informed the CDDECS about a Conference on the protection of social rights in Europe, organised in Brussels on 12-13 February 2015 within the auspices of the Belgian presidency of the CM.

 

INGO informed the CDDECS about its special working group on ESC’s articles 30 and 31 that was organised in October.  Mr Brillat noted that this is an example of the cooperation by the member States on the implementation of the social rights, which is a high priority of the SG. The bilateral and multilateral cooperation cannot substitute the monitoring but it facilitates the implementation and is thus needed.

 

The role of CDDECS with regard to the ESC secretariat and the ECSR should be a constructive cooperation for wider information sharing on the Charter and for full implementation of its provisions, which requires social policies, budgetary means and political means in the member States.

 

Short discussion followed. The replies to the questions are included in the text above.

 

7.2. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT)

The CDDECS had an exchange of views with Mr LÉ™tif HÜSEYNOV, President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT). The exchange was initiated by the Bureau of the CDDECS.

 

The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was opened for signature in November 1987 and entered into force on 1 February 1989. All 47 member States have ratified the convention and have nominated an independent expert to its monitoring committee, the CPT. Non-member States can also be invited to join. The 25th anniversary seminar will be organised on 2 March 2015.

 

The Convention and the work of its monitoring committee aim at preventing torture and ill-treatment. The committee acts as a proactive non-judicial mechanism operating alongside the reactive judicial mechanism of the European Court of Human Rights. CPT organises visits to places of detention, in broad sense including moving places, transportation, flights etc. in order to assess how persons deprived of their liberty are treated. Both deliberate and passive treatments are included The places to visit include prisons, juvenile detention centres, police stations, holding centres for immigration detainees, psychiatric hospitals, social care homes, etc.

 

The Committee must notify the State concerned on its intention to carry out a visit. After notification, the CPT delegations have unlimited access to places of detention, and the right to move inside such places without restriction. They interview persons deprived of their liberty in private, and communicate freely with anyone who can provide information.

 

The visits are periodical (usually once every four years). Additional “ad hoc” visits are carried out when necessary. After each visit, the CPT sends a report to the State concerned. The report includes the CPT’s findings, recommendations, comments and requests for information. The CPT also requests a detailed response to the issues raised in its report. These strictly confidential reports and responses form part of the ongoing dialogue and cooperation with the States concerned.  Public statements can also be used, but only in cases where it is seen that cooperation with the state in question has broken down. Reports can also be made public with the consent of the state in question.

The CPT has done 370 visits so far. Rapid “ad hoc” interventions are used with increasing frequency. Public statements have been used only six times: twice in respect of Turkey (in 1992 and 1996), three times concerning the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation (in 2001, 2003 and 2007) and once in respect of Greece (in March 2011).

 

In addition to country visits and related recommendations and other work the CPT develops standards with regard various issues under its mandate, such as safeguards, conditions, health care, combating impunity. Recently standards have been developed for juvenile incarceration (including separate holding places, activities and trained personnel) and for women deprived of their liberty (mixed gender staffing, accommodating separately from men, access to activities, health care, hygiene and ante and post natal care). The standards are additional to the other existing HR standards. A compilation of the Standards is available in several languages.

 

The optional protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UN OP-CAT) provides to set up national preventive mechanisms to regularly visit places of deprivation of liberty and contact authorities on how they have improved situations in such institutions. Over 30 such national preventive mechanisms have been set up in the world. UN subcommittee on torture monitors the implementation of the protocol and CPT cooperates actively with it and with the national mechanisms.

 

The cooperation and contact with the NGOs is essential. An ad hoc- visit was even based on the information provided by a NGO. In general the work is more public nowadays, the CPT invites NGOs and governments to common discussion at the end of a country visit, some countries have automatic publication procedure and some countries even publishes preliminary findings at the end of the visit allowing better national dialogue.

 

A lengthy discussion followed, during which the question of visits to areas that are not under the control of the nation state or areas that are under separatist authorities was raised. Examples that were brought up included Crimea, Transnistria, Abkhasia, northern Cyprus, northern Karabakh and Eastern Ukraine. The CPT has not been denied visits in the areas with separatist authorities and has visited such conflict areas. The notification of a visit and the report are sent to the national authority, but report is also sent to the effective authority in the area and responsible for acting on the report.  The CPT has visited Abkhasia and has tried to visit northern Cyprus. Northern Karabakh, Crimea and Eastern Ukraine are on the agenda.

 

Also the question about knowledge of their rights by the persons deprived of their liberty was raised. The CPT finds it essential to make sure the persons are aware of their rights. The persons should, on their arrival in the place of detention, receive a written notice of their rights and how to protect their rights.  It should also be made sure that they understand the rights.

 

Replies to the other questions are included in the text above.

 

The CPT expressed the wish that the CDDECS could reflect on how to include the various CPT standards into the work of the CDDECS.

 

7.3. Council of Europe Youth Department

The CDDECS had an exchange of views with Mr André-Jacques DODIN, Head of the Intergovernmental Division and Mr Rui GOMES, Head of the Education and Training Division.

 

The Youth Department has currently a working group drafting a recommendation to the CM on young people’s access to fundamental rights. The main themes of the recommendation are multiple discrimination against young people, transition from education to work, social and health care, participation in community life and support for youth initiatives for other youth. The working group has met last in August 2014 and will meet again in January 2015. The CDDECS will receive the revised draft text for comments.

 

Young People Combating Hate Speech Online is a project by the Council of Europe’s youth sector between 2012 and 2014. In connection to the Council of Europe project there are national campaigns in most of the member States that will continue past 2015. The campaign is against hate speech online in all its forms, including those that most affect young people, such as cyber-bullying and cyber-hate. The campaign focuses on human rights education, youth participation and media literacy. It aims to combat racism and discrimination, as expressed online as hate speech, by mobilizing young people and youth organisations to recognise and act against such human rights violations. The main target groups are the public at large and online activists. “Victims” and “Haters” will also be considered through specific measure. The project was initiated by the youth representatives in the Joint Council on Youth, the committee which brings together youth leaders belonging of the Advisory Council on Youth and the governmental youth representatives of the European Steering Committee on Youth. The project is being carried out by young people with the support of governmental youth institutions. The work has resulted in joint projects especially in education and democracy areas, less in violence and abuse. ECRI has taken hate speech as its focus in the 5th round of monitoring etc. Various campaigns in member States on religious intolerance and islamophobia in all their forms, PACE has recommended 22.7. to be the annual European day for support of victims of hate crime, there is an online hate speech watch etc.

 

Short discussion followed. The replies to the questions are included in the text above.

 

Item 8 - Recent relevant developments in Member States

Armenia provided a written statement on recent national developments (Appendix 6). No recent developments were presented orally.

 

The CDDECS decided also in the future to request member States to send in written contributions prior to the meeting.

 

Item 9 - Recent developments concerning some of the relevant Council of Europe Conventions and monitoring mechanisms

 

9.1.Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention)

Mr Mikaël POUTIERS, member of the Secretariat of the Lanzarote Convention made an overview of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention). The Convention was opened for signatures in 2007 and entered into force in 2010. To date 34 member States have ratified it and all are signatories. The Convention is also open to non-members, and for example Morocco has reviewed its legislation to reflect the Convention. 

 

Studies show that 1 out of 5 children is a victim to some type of violence (violence, abuse, harassment, grooming). The Lanzarote Convention is the most ambitious and comprehensive legal instrument on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. It takes as a starting point the relevant United Nations and Council of Europe standards, extending them to cover all possible kinds of sexual offences against minors (including sexual abuse of a child, child prostitution, pedopornography, grooming and corruption of children through exposure to sexual content and activities) and criminalising them. It covers sexual abuse within the victim’s family or close social surroundings and acts committed for commercial or profit-making purposes. It sets forth that States shall establish specific legislation and take measures with an emphasis on keeping the best interest of children at the forefront to prevent sexual violence but also to protect child victims and prosecute perpetrators. It also promotes international cooperation to achieve the same objectives (the 4 P’s prevention, protection, prosecution and promotion).

The convention is not just criminal law convention, but it has a strong prevention part, which deals for example on recruitment with people dealing with children, centralising files so perpetrators cannot be employed again to work with children, it has an aspect of awareness raising in society, educating children about the risks and how to act on internet etc. Member States, media and civil society are asked to set up prevention programs. Council of Europe has elaborated strategy for the protection of children with the aim to fight sexual abuse, “1 in 5”, that might be better context to understand the phenomena, organise conference on the issue etc.  The convention as such does not have means to help the perpetrators.

 

Convention created also a monitoring body, called Lanzarote committee (i.e. the Committee of the Parties to the Convention), whose 9th meeting took place in September 2014. The committee also presented its first report to CM in September 2014.

 

The committee has two functions, to ensure the follow up and implementation of the convention and to act as observer in the area of sexual exploitation of children.  The monitoring procedure is divided by rounds, each round concerning a theme. The first theme is "sexual abuse in the circle of trust" (i.e. persons known to children, family members etc). All the countries will be monitored simultaneously, to set up procedures on specific themes made possible, to collect and create good practice etc. In order to assess Parties' implementation of the Convention, two questionnaires were sent to member States. Also NGOs and civil society were requested to reply to those questionnaires. Two reports will be published on the results, first one in 2015 on effective implementation of legal measures, and the second one in 2017 on procedures and measures adapted in order to protect children and make access to justice more easy.

 

The Lanzarote Committee is also mandated to facilitate the collection, analysis and exchange of information, experience and good practice between states to improve their capacity to prevent and combat sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children. In this regard the Committee may organise capacity building activities, exchanges of information or hearings on specific challenges raised by the implementation of the Convention. For example a study visit to Interpol was organised to discuss fight against sexual abuse and sexual tourism and sexual abuse using internet.  Interesting analysis is taking place on photos and videos with new technical solutions to identify victims and perpetrators. Also the committee is preparing an opinion on grooming through internet. There is extensive interpretation of convention already needed as negative development is evolving very fast. Harmful practices need to be covered more widely as soon as they develop.

 

Short discussion followed. The replies to the questions are included in the text above.

 

Iceland informed about a conference on Lanzarote convention organised in Iceland in September 2014 and noted that cooperation also with international organisations and Council of Europe organs that deal with trafficking in human beings is important.

 

9.2.Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention)

The CDDECS received an overview of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul convention) by Mr Johan Friestedt, Head of Unit on Violence against Women (GREVIO)

 

The Convention was opened for signatures in 2011 and entered into force 1 August 2014. To date 22 member States have ratified it and another 15 are signatories. The Convention is also open to non-members. 

 

The Istanbul Convention is the most far-reaching international treaty to tackle violence against women and domestic violence. It aims at zero tolerance for such violence. Preventing violence, protecting victims and prosecuting the perpetrators are the cornerstones of the convention. The convention seeks to ensure that all of the above measures form part of a comprehensive and co-ordinated set of policies and offer a holistic response to violence against women and domestic violence (the 4 Ps; prevention, protection, prosecution and policies).

 

The convention recognises violence against women as a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination. The states are held responsible if they do not respond adequately to such violence. It is the first international treaty to contain a definition of gender. Research has shown that certain roles and behaviours can contribute to make violence against women acceptable. The convention criminalises offences, such as female genital mutilation, forced marriage, stalking, forced abortion and forced sterilisation. The states will be obliged to introduce these serious offences into their legal systems. The convention also calls for the involvement of all relevant state agencies and services so that violence against women and domestic violence are tackled in a co-ordinated way.

 

As it is not only women who suffer domestic violence, parties to the convention are encouraged to apply the protective framework it creates to men, children and the elderly who are exposed to violence within the family or domestic unit.

 

The convention sets up a monitoring mechanism to assess its national implementation. The mechanism consists of two pillars: an independent expert body, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO, 10-15 members),  and the political body composed of official representatives of the States Parties to the Convention, the Committee of the Parties. Their findings and recommendations will help to ensure states’ compliance with the convention and guarantee its long-term effectiveness. The first 10 GREVIO members are to be elected in 2015 and the first round of country by country evaluations are to be initiated in late 2015.

 

Short discussion followed. The replies to the questions are included in the text above


 

9.3.The Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

The CDDECS received an overview of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Ms Petya NESTOROVA, Head of Division and Executive Secretary of the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)

 

The Convention was opened for signatures in May 2005 and entered into force in February 2008. To date 41 member States have ratified it and another 2 are signatories. The Convention is also open to non-members. Belarus has acceded to the Convention in 2013.

 

The Convention aims to prevent trafficking in human beings, protect victims of trafficking, prosecute traffickers, and promote co-ordination of national actions and international co-operation (the 4 Ps prevention, protection, prosecution and promotion).

 

The convention defines trafficking in human beings as a combination of three elements: an action (recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons); with the use of certain means (threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, or giving or receiving payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control of another person) for the purpose of exploitation (at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the removal of organs). (NB! The aim of people smuggling is the unlawful cross-border transport in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit. The purpose of trafficking in human beings is exploitation and it does not have to involve crossing a border).

 

The convention applies to all forms of trafficking, whether national or transnational, whether linked to organised crime or not, to all victims of trafficking (women, men and children) and to all forms of exploitation (sexual, forced labour or services, slavery, servitude, removal of organs, etc.).

 

The main added value of the convention is its human rights based approach and the protection of victims. The convention defines trafficking as a violation of human rights and an offence to the dignity and integrity of the human being. This means that the member States are responsible if they do not take action to prevent human trafficking, protect victims and effectively investigate trafficking cases.

 

The Convention sets up a monitoring mechanism to assess its national implementation. The state parties are regularly monitored by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA). GRETA is composed of 15 independent experts analysing the situation on a country-by-country basis, drawing up reports, based on states replies to its questionnaires and information gathered in cooperation with other organisations such as EU, OSCE, UN, UNHCHR, ILO and national and international NGOs. The reports identify good practices and gaps, and makes recommendations on how to improve the implementation of the convention in each country. The reports and recommendations are made public and are published on the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking website.

 

The relationship between the Convention and the EU Directive 2011/36/EU of 5 April 2011 on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting its Victims is somewhat difficult. The directive has to be transposed to national legislation of the EU member States. However, the definition of trafficking in national laws can be different from the definition of GRETA. Commission is not actively taking into account GRETAs views and in the future more synergies are needed in order to avoid double reporting and to remove gaps in coverage.

 

Short discussion followed. The replies to the questions are included in the text above

 

Item 10 - Recent developments in relevant Council of Europe bodies

 

10.1.Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)

The CDDECS received an overview of the current activities of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) by Ms Sonia SIRTORI, Head of the Office of the Secretary General of the Assembly.

 

In the architecture of the Council of Europe the Parliamentary Assembly has the task of bringing new ideas and initiatives into discussion, working as a tool to increase the impact of Council of Europe’s work by influencing the design of national legislation and policies and by creating synergies at national level.

 

A relevant counterpart for the CDDECS amongst the PACE committees is the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination (AS/EGA). The committee considers questions of equality and non-discrimination on any ground such as sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, ethnicity, belonging to a national minority, property, birth age, disability or other status.

 

The committees work approach is human rights based. Its priorities are violence against women, hatred, persons with disabilities and LGTB. It has three subcommittees (gender equality, rights of minorities and disability and inclusion). In addition to the committees it has three general rapporteurs (violence against women, rights of LGTB and combating racisms and intolerance).

 

The committee prepares reports and runs various campaigns and networks, such as Parliamentary Network Women Free from Violence and No Hate Parliamentary Alliance.

 

10.2.Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Nothing to report.

 

Item 11 - Recent developments in the European Union and/or in International Organisations

Nothing to report.

 

Item 12 - Any other business

The Secretariat informed the committee of the upcoming Conference on Sami people in Inari, Finland on 27-29 November 2014. Members of the bureau of the CDDECS will participate together with the bureau members of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) and the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML), national civil servants, experts, NGOs and Sami representatives from countries where the Sami the only indigenous people in the European Union live. The event is intended for raising awareness on issues relating to Sami and to function as a synergy activity on behalf of the various Council of Europe entities.

 

Item 13 - Dates of the next meetings

The committee decided to hold its 3rd plenary session in Strasbourg on 27-29 May 2015. The 4th plenary session will take place in Strasbourg in November /December 2015.  Dates to be decided by the Bureau in its February meeting.

 

Item 14 - Adoption of the abridged report

The CDDECS adopted the English language version of the abridged report.

Appendix 1

PRELIMINARY DRAFT ANNOTATED AGENDA

 

Item 1

Opening of the meeting by the chairperson

 

Item 2

Adoption of the draft annotated agenda and the draft order of Business

CDDECS(2014) OJA2 - Draft annotated agenda

CDDECS(2014) OB2 - Draft order of business

 

 

Work programme of the CDDECS

 

 

Item 3

Implementation of the CDDECS work programme

 

3.1. Work programme activities and priorities – results of the Survey and the next steps

 The committee is invited to discuss the proposals made by the Member States for the short term and long term activities, based on the survey results, and to decide which priority activities will be implemented.

CDDECS(2014) 15 - Survey: compilation of national replies

CDDECS(2014) 16 - Draft Programme of actions 2014-2015

CDDECS(2014) 18 - Proposals made by the member States

in the CDDECS survey on Activities

CDDECS(2014) 4 - CDDECS Work Programme

CDDECS Terms of reference

 

3.2. Report from the Conference “Social Cohesion – achievements and challenges in times of crisis”, held in Baku in September 2014

 The Chair and Vice-Chair will report about this event and the committee is invited to take note on the conference documents.

CDDECS(2014) 17-

Compilation of speeches and written contributions

 

3.3. Secretary General’s report on state of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe

SG(2014)1-Final

Report by the Secretary General on the State of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe

SG/Inf(2014)28

Follow-up to the Report by the Secretary General on the State of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe

 

3.4. Exchange of views with the chairpersons of subordinate bodies of the CDDECS

 The committee is invited to discuss with the chairpersons of DECS-GEC, DECS-ENF and DECS-RPD the priority activities selected by the CDDECS.

 


 

Work of the subordinate bodies of the CDDECS

 

 

Item 4

Gender Equality

Gender Equality Commission (DECS-GEC)

 

4.1. Exchange of views with the Gender Equality Commission will take place on Thursday 20 November 2014 in the afternoon with the participation of Catherine BIJ DE VAATE, Policy Adviser, Institute on Gender Equality and Women’s History (ATRIA)

 

4.2. GEC’s Annual Report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017

GEC (2014) 12

Annual Report on the implementation of Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017

 

Item 5

Rights of the child

 

5.1. Work done by the Committee of Experts on the CoE strategy for the rights of the child 2016-19 (DECS-ENF)

5.2. Draft Questionnaires on child friendly social services and child friendly health care

 The committee is invited to discuss the draft questionnaires with the consultant Ms Ana Isabel GUERREIRO who prepared questionnaires.

 

CDDECS-ENF(2014)3 - Survey on child- friendly healthcare

CDDECS-ENF(2014)4 - Survey on child-friendly social services

 

5.3. Latest developments within the children’s rights division of the CoE

 

Item 6

Rights of people with disabilities

 

6.1. Work done by the Committee of Experts on the Rights of People with Disabilities (DECS-RPD)

DECS-RPD(2014)8 LOD - Abridged Report

 

6.2. Recommendation 361 (2014) – “Promoting equal opportunities for people with disabilities and their participation at local and regional levels”

Recommendation 361 (2014)


 

 

Exchanges of views with specific Council of Europe sectors

 

 

Item 7

Exchanges of views

7.1. European Social Charter (ESC)

Exchange of views with Mr Regis BRILLAT, Head of Department and Executive Secretary of the European Committee of Social Rights. Focus will be on the High-level Conference on the European Social Charter in Turin on 17-18 October 2014 and the “Turin Process”.

The exchange will take place on Wednesday 19 November 2014 at 9.30 a.m.

 

7.2. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT)

Exchange of views with Mr LÉ™tif HÜSEYNOV, President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT).

The exchange will take place on Thursday 20 November 2014 at 9.30 a.m.

 

7.3. Council of Europe Youth Department

Exchange of views with Mr André-Jacques DODIN, Head of the Intergovernmental Division and Mr Rui GOMES, Head of the Education and Training Division on the “No Hate Speech”-campaign and the current work on young people’s access for fundamental rights

The exchange will take place on Wednesday 19 November 2014 in the afternoon.

 

 

Recent developments related to the work of the CDDECS

 

 

Item 8

Recent relevant developments in Member States

 

Item 9

Recent developments concerning some of the relevant Council of Europe Conventions and monitoring mechanisms

 

9.1.The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention)

T-ES(2014)21 – 9th meeting report

 

9.2.Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)

 

9.3.The Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

 

Item 10

Recent developments in relevant Council of Europe bodies

 

10.1.Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)

 

10.2.Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

 

Item 11

Recent developments in the European Union and/or in International Organisations

 

Other issues

 

 

Item 12

12.1. Any other business

 

12.2. Forthcoming events

Draft Programme

 

Item 13

Dates of the next meetings

3rd meeting of CDDECS - Strasbourg, 27-29 May 2015

4th meeting of CDDECS – Strasbourg, November /December 2015

 

Item 14

Adoption of the abridged report

 


Appendix 2

DRAFT ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

Tuesday 18 November 2014

 

9.30

-

10.00

 

 

 

Item 1

Opening of the meeting by the chairperson

 

 

 

Item 2

Adoption of the draft annotated agenda and the draft order of Business

10.00

-

12.30

 

 

Item 3

Implementation of the CDDECS work programme

 

 

 

12.30

-

14.00

Lunch

14.00

-

16.00

 

 

Item 3 - Continued

Implementation of the CDDECS work programme

 

 

 

16.00

-

17.00

 

Item 3

Implementation of the CDDECS work programme

 

3.4.Exchange of views with the chairpersons of subordinate bodies of the CDDECS

 

 

 

18.00

 

Reception in the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands

   

 


Wednesday 19 November 2014

09.30

-

10.30

 

Item 7

Exchanges of views

 

7.1 Exchange of views with Mr Regis BRILLAT, Head of Department and Executive Secretary of the European Committee of Social Rights

 

11.00

-

12.30

 

Item 9

Recent developments concerning some of the relevant Council of Europe Conventions and monitoring mechanisms

 

9.1 The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention)

 

Item 6

Rights of people with disabilities

 

6.1 Work done by the Committee of Experts on the Rights of People with Disabilities (DECS-RPD)

 

6.2. CDDECS reply to the committee of ministers on Recommendation 361 (2014) – “Promoting equal opportunities for people with disabilities and their participation at local and regional levels”

 

Item 8

Recent relevant developments in Member States

12.30

-

14.00

Lunch

14.00

-

16.00

 

Item 7

Exchanges of views

 

7.3 Exchange of views with a representative of the Youth Department on the “No Hate Speech”-campaign and the current work on young people’s access for fundamental rights

 

Item 5

Rights of the child

 

5.1 Work done by the Committee of Experts on the CoE strategy for the rights of the child 2016-19 (DECS ENF)

 

5.2 Draft questionnaires on child friendly social services and child friendly health care

 

5.3 Latest developments within the children’s rights division of the CoE

 

Item 9

Recent developments concerning some of the relevant Council of Europe Conventions and monitoring mechanisms

 

9.3 The Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

 

16.00

-

18.00

 

Meeting of the CDDECS Bureau

 

   

 


Thursday 20 November 2014

9.30

-

10.30

 

Item 7

Exchanges of views

 

7.2 Exchange of views with Mr LÉ™tif HÜSEYNOV, President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT).)

 

Item 9

Recent developments concerning some of the relevant Council of Europe Conventions and monitoring mechanisms

 

9.2 Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)

 

11.00

-

12.00

 

Item 10

Recent developments in relevant Council of Europe bodies

 

10.1. Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)

10.2. Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

 

Item 11

Recent developments in the European Union and/or in International Organisations

 

Items 12

 

12.1. Any other business

12.2. Forthcoming events

 

Item 13

Dates of the next meeting

 

12.30

-

14.00

Lunch

14.00

-

16.00

 

Item 4

Gender Equality

Gender Equality Commission (DECS-GEC)

 

4.1 Exchange of views with the Gender Equality Commission with the participation of Catherine BIJ DE VAATE, Policy Adviser, Institute on Gender Equality and Women’s History (ATRIA)

 

4.2  GEC’s Annual Report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017

 

 

16.00

-

16.30

 

Item 14

Adoption of the abridged report

   


Appendix 3

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

 

MEMBERS / MEMBRES

 

ALBANIA/ALBANIE

 

Ms Merita XHAFAJ

General Director of Social Policies

Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth

Rr.e Kavajës, 1001, Tiranë

Albania

E-mail: [email protected]

 

ANDORRA/ANDORRE

 

M. Joan Carles VILLAVERDE

Chef de service d’attention Sociale Primaire

Ministère de la Santé et du Bien-Être

GOVERN D'ANDORRA

Av. Príncep Benlloch 30, 4rt.

AD500 - Andorra la Vella

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mme Ruth MALLOL

Chef de service d’Attention Sociale de l’Enfance et de la Famille

Ministère de la Santé et du Bien-Être

GOVERN D'ANDORRA

Av. Príncep Benlloch 30, 4rt.

AD500 - Andorra la Vella

E-mail: [email protected]

 

ARMENIA/ARMÉNIE

 

Ms Lilit DOKHIKYAN

Deputy Head of International Cooperation and Development Programmes Department

Head of International Cooperation Division

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Government Building 3, Republic Square

0010 Yerevan

Tel/fax: +37410 56 37 91

E-mail: [email protected]

 

AUSTRIA/AUTRICHE

 

Ms Christine HOLZER

Deputy Head of Department

Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection

Stubenring 1

A-1010 Vienna

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mr Franz SVEHLA

Abteilung für Bilaterale Beziehungen

und Internationale Organisationen

Stubenring 1

1010 Wien

Tel: +43 (1) 711 00 - 6273

Fax: +43 (1) 718 94 70 - 2432

E-mail: [email protected]


AZERBAIJAN/AZERBAÏDJAN

 

Mr Seymur MARDALIYEV

Head of Division

Department for Humanitarian and social affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Sh. Gurbanov str. 9,

AZ-1009 Baku

Tel: +994 125 969 141

Fax: +994 124 926 825

E-mail : [email protected]

 

BELGIUM/BELGIQUE

 

Mr Manuel PAOLILLO

Attaché au Service Public Fédéral Sécurité Sociale

Direction générale Appui stratégique ; Relations multilatérales

Service Public Fédéral Sécurité Sociale

DG Appui stratégique ; Relations multilatérales

Centre Administratif Botanique ; Finance Tower

Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 50, boîte 1

B-1000 Bruxelles

E-mail : [email protected]

 

Mme Carine JANSEN

Directrice

Direction départementale de la Cohésion Sociale

Secrétariat général du Service public de Wallonie

Place Joséphine-Charlotte, 2

B-5100 Namur

Tel : +32 81 32 16 06

E-mail : [email protected]

http://cohesionsociale.wallonie.be

 

 

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA/ BOSNIE ET HERZÉGOVINE

 

Ms Lidija MARKOTA

Head of Division for Social protection and Pensions

Ministry of Civil Affairs

Trg BiH 3

BiH-71 000 Sarajevo

Tel: +387 33 492 509

Fax: +387 33 492 630

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

BULGARIA/BULGARIE

 

Ms Nadezhda HARIZANOVA

State Expert

Integration of People with disabilities Department

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy

2 Triaditza Street

BG-1056 Sofia

Bulgaria

E-mail : [email protected]

 

 


CROATIA/CROATIE

 

Ms Snježana FRANKOVIĆ

Ministry of Social Policy and Youth

Directorate for Social Policy, Strategy and Youth

Sector for International Cooperation and  EU 

Service for International Cooperation

Savska 66, Zagreb, Republic of Croatia

Tel:   + 385 1 555 7153

Fax: + 385 1 555 7227

Email: [email protected]

 

CYPRUS/CHYPRE

 

Mr Andreas ASHIOTIS

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour

Welfare and Social Insurance

Tel.: +35722401741

Fax. +35722681875

Email.: [email protected]

 

 

CZECH REPUBLIC/RÉPUBLIQUE TCHÈQUE

 

Mrs Zuzana ZAJAROŠOVÁ

Director of Department for EU and International Cooperation

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

DENMARK/DANEMARK

 

Ms Tina GADE JENSEN

Special adviser

Ministry for children, gender equality, integration, and social affairs

Law and International

22, Holmens Kanal

DK-1060 Copenhagen K

Tel: +45 41851043

Email: [email protected]

 

 

ESTONIA/ESTONIE

 

Ms Katri EESPEREApologised / Excusée

Head of Department

Gender Equality Department

Ministry of Social Affairs

Gonsiori 29

15027 Tallinn

Tel: +372 6269251

Fax: +372 6992209

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Ms Helena PALL

Adviser to gender equality department on Equal treatment and non-discrimination

Gender Equality Department

Ministry of Social Affairs

Gonsiori 29

15027 Tallinn

Tel: +372 6269 250

E-mail : [email protected]


FINLAND/FINLANDE

 

Ms Marja-Liisa PARJANNE

Director of Development

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

PO Box 33

00023 Government

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Ms Maija ILES

Senior Officer

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

PO Box 33

00023 Government

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

FRANCE

 

Mr Alexis RINCKENBACH (Vice-Chair /Vice-Président)

Chef du Bureau des affaires européennes et internationales

Direction générale de la cohésion sociale

Ministère des affaires sociales

14, avenue Duquesne

F-75350 Paris 07 SP 

Tel: +33 1 40 56 85 31

Fax : +33 1 40 56 87 67

Email: [email protected]

 

GEORGIA/GÉORGIE

 

Ms Amiran DATESHIDZE

Head of the social program's and issues division

Social Protection Department

Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs Georgia

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

GERMANY/ALLEMAGNE

 

Dr. Jürgen THOMAS

Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales

Referat VIb4 "OECD, Europarat,OSZE"

Villemombler Strasse 76

D-53123 Bonn

Tel : +49 (0)228-99-527-6985

E-mail : [email protected]

 

 

GREECE/GRÈCE

 

Mr Socratis SOURVINOS

Adjoint au Représentant Permanent

Représentation Permanente de la Grèce

auprès du Conseil de l’Europe

 

 


HUNGARY/HONGRIE

 

Ms Ágnes CSICSELY

Expert of Basic Services

Ministry of Human Resources

Ministry of State for Social and Family Affairs

Department for Social and Child Welfare Services

Akadémia utca 3.

H-1054 Budapest

Tel.: + 36 1 795 3140

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

ICELAND/ISLANDE

 

Mrs Ingibjörg, BRODDADÓTTIR

Deputy Director General

Department of Social Services

Ministry of Welfare

Hafnarhus v/tryggvagötu

101 Reykjavik

Tel: +354 54 58 100

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

IRELAND/IRLANDE

 

Mr Deaglán Ó BRIAIN

Principal

Equality Division

Department of Justice and Equality

Floor 2, Bishop's Square

Redmond's Hill

Dublin 2

Tel: +353 1 4790268

Email: [email protected]

 

 

ITALY/ITALIE

 

 

LATVIA/LETTONIE

 

Mr Ingus ALLIKSApologised / Excusé

Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Welfare

Skolas iela 28

LV-1331, Riga

Tel.: + 371 67021516

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

LIECHTENSTEIN

 

M. Martin HASLER

Diplomatic Officer

Office for Foreign Affairs

Heiligkreuz 14

FL-9490 Vaduz

Tel.  + 423 236 7476

Fax  + 423 236 6059

E-Mail :  [email protected]


LITHUANIA/LITUANIE

 

Ms Rita SKREBIŠKIENE

Director

International Affairs Department

Ministry of Social Security and Labour

A.Vivulskio 11,

LT-03610 Vilnius

Tel.: +370 5 2664 295

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

LUXEMBOURG

 

M. Claude EWEN

Direction du Service des Relations Internationales

Ministère de la Sécurité Sociale

Inspection générale de la sécurité sociale

Boîte Postale 1308

L-2936 Luxembourg

Street address: 26, rue Zithe

Tél.: +352 247 86 338

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

MALTA/MALTE

 

Mr Silvan AGIUSApologised / Excusé

Policy Coordinator (Human Rights)

Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties (MSDC)

Barriera Wharf

VLT 1971 Valletta

Tel.: +356 2090 8336

E-mail: [email protected]

www.socialdialogue.gov.mt

 

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA/REPUBLIQUE DE MOLDOVA

 

Ms Paulina TUDOS

Deputy Head

International Relations and Europe Integration Directorate

Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family

Tel.:+373 22 26 93 11

+373 68 41 68 41

E-mail:[email protected]

[email protected]

 

 

MONACO

 

 

MONTENEGRO

 

Ms. Marija BACKOVIC

Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

Senior advisor II for european integration and programming

Department for european integration

Rimski trg 46

20000 Podgorica

Tel/fax: + 382 (20) 482 172

E-mail: [email protected]


NETHERLANDS/PAYS-BAS

 

Ms Carlien SCHEELE (Chair / Présidente)

Director Equality

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

IPC: 5500 DE Kamer:

FLEX Postbus 16375

NL-2500 BJ Den Haag

Tel.: 31 6-52367792

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mr Sjoerd WARMERDAM

Policy Advisor

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

Directorate for Gender and LGBT Equality

NL-2500 BJ Den Haag

Tel: +31 6 15038113

Email: [email protected]

 

 

NORWAY/NORVEGE

 

Mr Petter SØRLIEN

Senior Adviser

Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion

Postboks 8036 Dep

N-0030 Oslo

Tel.: +47 22 24 25 60

Email: [email protected]

 

Ms Heidi LOHRMANN

Assistant Director General

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Postboks 8019 Dep.

N-0030 Oslo

Tel.: +47 22 24 87 69

Email: [email protected]

 

Ms Elisabeth VAAGEN

Assistant Director General

Ministry of Health and Care Services

Postboks 8011 Dep.

NO 0030 Oslo Norway

Tel:  +47 47 23 4463

E- mail : [email protected]

 

 

POLAND/POLOGNE 

 

Mr Jerzy CIECHANSKI

Counsellor to the Minister

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy

Ul. Nowogrodzka 1/3/5

PL-00-513 Warsaw

Tel: +48 22 380 5154

Email: [email protected]

 

 


PORTUGAL

 

Ms Fátima DUARTEApologised / Excusée

Présidente de la Commission pour la Citoyenneté et l’Egalité du Genre

Av. da República, 32, 1

P-1050-193 Lisboa

Tel.: +351 217 983 071

E-mail: [email protected]

 

ROMANIA/ROUMANIE

 

Mr Dragos Vasile PELMUS

General Secretary

47 Petofi Sandor Street, Distict 1

011405 Bucharest

E-mail: [email protected]

 

RUSSIAN FEDERATION/FEDERATION DE RUSSIE

 

Ms Maria ORESHINA

Second Secretary

MFA Russian Federation

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Moscow

Tel.: +7 (499) 244 38 43

E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

 

Mr. Pavel ASTAKHOV

Presidential Commissioner on Children’s Rights

 

Ms RODIONOVA

Senior expert of the department on Public Order and Coordination of the Executive bodies of Regions, Ministry of international Affairs

 

SAN MARINO/SAINT-MARIN

 

Mr Riccardo VENTURINI

State Secretary for Health and Social Security, Responsible for Disability and Residential Assistance,

Via La Morra, 16, 47893 Borgo Maggiore

Tel.: +39 348 445 4822;   fax: +39 05 49 883 388;

E-mail:  [email protected]

 

 

SERBIA/SERBIE

 

Mrs Ivana BANKOVIC

Department for international cooperation

European integration and projects at the Ministry of labour, employment and social issues

Tel.: + 381-11-361 62 61

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

SLOVAKIA/SLOVAQUIE

 

Mr Lukas BERINEC

Main State Counsellor

Department of International Relations and European Affairs

Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family

Spitálska 4-8

816 43 Bratislava

Tel: +421 2 2046 1638

E-mail: [email protected]

SLOVENIA/SLOVENIE

 

Ms Lea JAVORNIK NOVAK

M.Sc. Secretary

Ministry for Labour, Family, Social Affairs and equal opportunities

Family Directorate

Kotnikova 28

1000 Ljubljana

Tel: 01 369 75 04

Fax: 01 369 79 18

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

SPAIN/ESPAGNE

 

Ms Ignacio SOLA BARLEYCORNApologised / Excusée

Subdirector General para la Igualdad de Trato y la no Discriminación

Dirección General para la Igualdad de Oportunidades

Secretaría de Estadod e Servicios Sociales e Igualdad

Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad

c/ Alcalá 37. 28014 Madrid

Tel: 91.524 35 85/6

Fax: 91. 524.35 95

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

SWEDEN/SUEDE

 

Ms Ulrika HALL

Deputy Director

Division for EU and International Affairs

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs

Government offices of Sweden

Tel: +46-8-405 17 16

E-mail : [email protected]

 

 

SWITZERLAND/SUISSE

 

Ms Claudina MASCETTA

Chef de secteur

Département fédéral de l'intérieur DFI

Office fédéral des assurances sociales OFAS

Affaires internationales

Secteur Organisations internationales

Effingerstrasse 20

CH-3003 Berne

Tél. +41 58 462 91 98

Fax +41 58 462 37 35

E-mail : [email protected]

 

 

«THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA» / «L’EX-REPUBLIQUE YOUGOSLAVE DE MACEDOINE»

 

Ms Elena GROZDANOVA

State Counselor for equal opportunity

Ministry of Labor and Social Policy

Tel.: +389 75 311726

E-mail: [email protected]


TURKEY/TURQUIE

 

Mr Hasan Huseyin YILMAZ

Ministry of Labour and Social Security

Specialist

Tel.: +90 312 296 65 34

Fax: +90 312 215 33 12

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mr Ercüment Isik

Ministry of Family and Social Policy

Head of EU and External Relation department

Tel.: +90 312 705 50 15

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

UKRAINE/UKRAINE

 

Mr Andrii BESHTA

Acting Director-General for International Organizations

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM/ROYAUME-UNI

 

Mr Charles RAMSDENApologised / Excusé

Head of EU and International Policy

Government Equalities Office

100 Parliament Street

SW1A 2BQ London

Tel: +44 20 7211 6321

Email: [email protected]

 

****

 

PARTICIPANTS

 

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights / Commissaire aux Droits de l’Homme du Conseil de l’Europe

 

European Court of Human Rights / Cour Européenne des Droits de l’Homme

 

 

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe / Assemblée Parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe

 

Ms Sonia SIRTORI

Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly

Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

Head of Secretariat

Tel: +33 3 88 41 23 70

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Ms Maren LAMBRECHT-FEIGL

Secrétaire de la commission des questions sociales, de la santé et du développement durable

Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l'Europe

F - 67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel : + 33 3 90 21 47 78

E-mail: [email protected]

http://assembly.coe.int

 

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe / Congrès des pouvoirs locaux et régionaux du Conseil de l’Europe

Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe / Conférence des OING du Conseil de l’Europe

 

Ms Maritchu RALL

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Ms Antonina DASHKINA

International Federation of Social Workers

Vice-President of the Conference of INGOs

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Council of Europe Development Bank / Banque de développement du Conseil de l’Europe

 

Ms Catherine VARINOT

Directorate General of Democracy

Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)

Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel: +33 3 90 21 43 06

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Committees or other bodies of the Council of Europe engaged in related work / Comités ou autres organes du Conseil de l’Europe engagés dans des travaux similaires

 

Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) / Comité Directeur pour les Droits de l’Homme (CDDH)

 

Ms Nataliia SHAKURO

Head of Human Rights and the Council of Europe unit

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Kyiv - Ukraine

E-mail:[email protected]

[email protected]

 

 

European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) / Groupe d'experts sur la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains (GRETA)

 

Ms Petya NESTOROVA

Directorate General of Democracy

Trafficking in Human Beings and Violence against Women

Head of Division and Executive Secretary of the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)

Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel: +33 3 88 41 32 59

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Gender Equality Commission (DECS-GEC) / Commission pour l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes (DECS-GEC)

 

Mme Liri KOPACI-DI MICHELE

Directorate General of Democracy

Head of Division

Secretary to GEC

Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 58

E-mail: [email protected]

 


Committee of Experts on the Council of Europe strategy for the rights of the child (DECS-ENF) / Comité d’experts sur la stratégie du Conseil de l’Europe sur les droits de l’enfant (DECS-ENF)

 

Ms Agnes VON MARAVIC

Directorate General of Democracy

Children's Rights

Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 25

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Sexual Violence (Lanzarote Convention) / Violence sexuelle (Convention de Lanzarote)

 

Mr Mikaël POUTIERS

DGII : Directorate General of Democracy

Sexual Violence (Lanzarote Convention)

Secretariat of the Lanzarote Committee

Children's Rights Division

Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel: + 33/3.90.21.50.45

e-mail: [email protected]

www.coe.int/children

www.coe.int/lanzarote

 

 

Committee of Experts on the Rights of People with Disabilities (DECS-RPD) / Comité d’experts sur les droits des personnes handicapées (DECS-RPD)

 

Ms Irena KOWALCZYK-KEDZIORA

Secretary to the Committee of Experts on the Rights of People with Disabilities

Directorate General of Democracy

Head of Social Cohesion Unit

Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

France

Tel: +33 3 88 41 32 40

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT) / Comité européen pour la prévention de la torture et des peines ou traitements inhumains ou dégradants (CPT)

 

Mr LÉ™tif HÜSEYNOV

President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and

Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT)

 

Mr Jeroen SCHOKKENBROEK

Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and

Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT)

DGI : Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law

E-mail: [email protected]

 


European Social Charter (ESC) / Charte sociale européenne (ESC)

 

Mr Regis BRILLAT

Head of Department and Executive Secretary of the European Committee of Social Rights

DGI : Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law

Department of the European Social Charter

Head of Department, Executive Secretary of the European Committee of Social Rights

Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

France

Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 08

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Violence against Women (GREVIO) / Violence à l'égard des femmes (GREVIO)

 

Mr Johan FRIESTEDT

Directorate General of Democracy

Violence against Women (GREVIO)

Head of Unit

Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

France

Tel : +33 3 90 21 46 78

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Council of Europe Youth Department / Service de la Jeunesse du Conseil de l’Europe

 

Mr André-Jacques DODIN

Head of the Intergovernmental Division

Intergovernmental Committees

European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ)

Secretary

Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

France

Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 12

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mr Rui GOMES

DGII : Directorate General of Democracy

Non-formal Education and Training

Head of Division

Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

France

Tel: +33 3 90 21 47 20

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

EUROPEAN UNION / UNION EUROPEENE

 

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) / Agence européenne des droits fondamentaux (FRA)

 

European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) / Institut européen pour l’égalité entre les hommes et les femmes (EIGE)

 

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND) / Fondation européenne pour l’amélioration des conditions de vie et de travail (EUROFOUND)

 

OBSERVER STATES TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE / ETATS OBSERVATEURS AUPRES DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE

 

Canada

 

Holy See / Saint Siège

 

Japan/Japon

 

Mexico/Mexique

 

Mme Lilián ESPINOZA FERNÁNDEZ

Directrice Générale de Liaison Interinstitutionnelle du Système National

pour le Développement Intégral de la Famille

 

United States of America/Etats Unis d’Amérique

 

States Party to the European Cultural Convention that are not member States of the Council of Europe / Etats Parties à la Convention culturelle européenne qui ne sont pas membres du Conseil de l’Europe

 

Countries concerned with the Council of Europe policy towards neighbourhood regions / Pays concernés par la politique du Conseil de l’Europe à l’égard des régions voisines

 

United Nations including its specialised agencies, programmes, funds and other entities / Nations Unies, y compris leurs institutions spécialisées, programmes, fonds et autres entités

 

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) / l’Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques (OCDE)

 

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) / Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE)

 

Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues (NVC) under the aegis of the Nordic Council of Ministers / Centre nordique pour la protection sociale et les questions sociales opérant sous l’égide du Conseil des ministres nordique

 

European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and Conference of European Business (EUROBUSINESS) (“social partners”) / Confédération européenne des syndicats (CES) et la Confédération des entreprises européennes (EUROBUSINESS) (« partenaires sociaux »)

 

Mr Klaus LÖRCHER

"ETUC Human Rights Adviser"

Taufsteinweg 6

D-60435 Frankfurt

Tel.: +49 (69) 77075396

E-mail : [email protected]

 

 

***


 

OBSERVERS / OBSERVATEURS

 

 

Amnesty International

 

Children’s Rights International Network (CRIN)

 

Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union (COFACE) / Confédération des organisations familiales de l’Union européenne (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) / Association européenne des prestataires de services pour les personnes handicapées (EASPD)

 

European Disability Forum (EDF) / Forum européen des personnes handicapées (FEPH)

 

European Network of Ombudspeople for Children (ENOC) / Réseau européen des médiateurs pour les enfants (ENOC)

 

European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) / Forum européen des Roms  et des Gens du voyage (FERV)

 

European Women’s Lobby and Women against Violence in Europe (WAVE) / Lobby européen des femmes et Women against Violence in Europe (WAVE)

 

European Youth Forum (YFJ) / Forum européen de la jeunesse (YFJ)

 

Human Rights Watch

 

International Observatory of Juvenile Justice (OIJJ) / Observatoire international de justice juvénile (OIJJ)

 

International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates / Association internationale des magistrats de la jeunesse et de la famille

 

Missing Children Europe

 

Save the Children

 

European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET)

 

 


 

***

 

COUNCIL OF EUROPE / CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tél.: +33 3 88 41 20 00 ; Fax: + 33 3 88 41 27 81/82/83 ; E-mail: http://www.coe.int

 

 

Ms Marja RUOTANEN

Directorate General of Democracy

Director/Directrice

Directorate of Human Dignity and Equality/Direction de la Dignité humaine et de l‘égalité

Tel: +33 3 88 41 30 45 ; E-mail: [email protected]

 

Ms Maria OCHOA-LLIDO

Directorate General of Democracy

Head of the Antidiscrimination and Social Cohesion Department/Chef du Service de l’Anti-discrimination et de la Cohésion sociale

Tel.: +33 3 88 41 21 79 ; E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Secretariat to the European Committee for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality / Secrétariat du Comité Européen pour la Cohésion Sociale, la dignité humaine et l’égalité

 

Mme Michèle AKIP

Secretary to the European Committee for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality / Secrétaire du Comité Européen pour la Cohésion sociale, la dignité humaine et l’égalité (CDDECS)

Tel : +33 3 88 41 23 46 ; E-mail : [email protected]

 

Ms Leena LEIKAS

Programme officer to the CDDECS

Tel.: +33 3 88 41 32 47 ; E-mail: [email protected]

 

Ms Déborah LEFEBVRE

Assistant

Tel: +33 3 90 21 44 25; E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

INTERPRETERS/INTERPRÈTES

 

Mr Rémy JAIN

Ms Sara WEBSTER

 


Appendix 4

 

The statement of the delegation of the Russian Federation
on the Report by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
“State of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe: An analysis, based on the findings of the CoE monitoring mechanisms and bodies»
(124th Session of the Committee of Ministers, Vienna, 5-6 May 2014)

Regarding our discussions on the Secretary General's report “State of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe” in the light of the point 3.3. of the draft agenda of CDDECS, the Russian Federation would like to make the following statement.

Last year Mr. Jagland signed an appeal, dated back 19 November, in which he asked the Russian Foreign Minister to provide him with information regarding three key challenges in each CoE member State, concerning the necessity to ensure better implementation and follow-up to the findings of the monitoring bodies of the Council of Europe:

This mostly concerns the areas of responsibility of European Committee for the Prevention of Torture or the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance.

From the very beginning the Russian Federation supported the initiative of the Secretary General and welcomed his idea and the logic of his intention to identify the most keen and crucial systemic problems which each country inevitably faces in spite of the fact that many CoE member States initially were sceptical about the questionnaires.

At the same time we supported the efforts of Mr Jagland to enhance the CoE system of monitoring with a view to enhance coordination.

We also welcomed the outcome of the efforts of the Secretary General, who in June 2014 presented his report which was compiled in accordance with democratic peer principles - there were no mentors, who would like to “arrogantly instruct” countries as if they were “pupils”.

We also positively reacted to using a thematic approach on the monitoring activity of the Council of Europe. The transition in data collection from a country approach to a thematic approach is long overdue. That is the heart of the matter.

We positively estimated that the report was not intended to be comprehensive. There were priorities which were correctly selected.

It is necessary to remind that the preparation of this document coincided with a sensitive period for the Council of Europe and personally for His Excellency Mr.Jagland due to the pre-election period of the CoE Secretary General.

During the period of elections we refrained from public criticism on his report and the Russian stand was quite moderate and, as always, constructive.

However, it is necessary to stress the following subject-matters.

In many respects for the Russian side it was a compromise between, on the one hand, our long-term requirements about the necessity to impose comprehensive reporting for all CoE member States, concerning the implementation of their obligations in the framework of the Council of Europe, and, on the other hand, attempts of the so-called “liberal lobby” to start reform of monitoring bodies of the Organization in such a way in order to enhance and to strengthen the role of the SECRETARIAT of the CoE and to grant unrestricted powers to the Committee of Ministers and to give exclusive and control authority for it. This is something which we find problematic.

The legal analysis of the set of documents of the Council of Europe, which regulates its monitoring bodies and monitoring mechanisms, leads to the following conclusion. Formally the Secretary General is not in charge, he is not invested with absolute power to implement decision-making policy on issues mentioned above and to independently evaluate the efficiency of the implementation of the Council of Europe’s legally binding acts by the CoE member States and to make corrections in existing monitoring practices.

Truly speaking, there is only one exception, that in the Article 52 “Inquiries by the Secretary General” of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which provides the following. “On receipt of a request from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe any High Contracting Party shall furnish an explanation of the manner in which its internal law ensures the effective implementation of any of the provisions of the Convention”. There is no reference to this Article of the Convention in the letter of Mr.Jagland of 19 November 2013 which was distributed among CoE member States.

We suppose that the initiative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe can not be considered as a precedent for the creation of an additional system of monitoring, which in this case will duplicate the existing control mechanisms.

We express concern about attempts without any public discussions and bypassing the Committee of Ministers on this issue to impose a new monitoring procedure not instead of an existing one, but in addition to it. It would be an groundless, baseless and unjustifiable interference into the independence of the monitoring bodies and a substitution of their competencies by opinions and evaluations by the Secretary General. It could lead to the fragmentation of the terms of references of monitoring bodies.

At least the process of imposing additional channels for monitoring will entail amendments to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and other treaties.

The authors of this idea try to include a new form of monitoring under the aegis of
the CM, which will “play the first fiddle”. Let me remind that a number of conventions are very “sensitive” and their implementation has a confidential nature and require a certain level of trust between States. It seems that the Secretariat tries to receive access to this data collection.

***

We can raise the issue of enhancement and improvement of methods of the activity of monitoring bodies through the CM.

We believe that such steps of the Secretariat are not in line with the interests of the Russian Federation, the interests of the Council of Europe and the interest of the majority of CoE member States.


Appendix 5

 

Pavel Astakhov, Children’s Rights

Commissioner for the President of Russia

 

Integrating efforts of family, society and State for the purposes of child welfare: Russia’s National Strategy

 

2nd Plenary meeting

European Committee for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality

 

(18-20 November 2014, Strasburg)

 

 

  1.        Russia shapes its present-day national children’s strategy in compliance with generally recognized rules and principles of international law prescribed in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international treaties, namely:

1)  a principle  of prioritized interests of children, their personal integrity , health, physical, moral, mental and social development in any sphere of life and activity;

2) a principle of state protection of children’s best interests in any actions with respect to children who are the most vulnerable social group;

3)  admissibility of legal restrictions on rights and freedoms of full-age persons if it is considered necessary to protect health and freedoms and to  respect  rights and reputation of a child;

4) admissibility  of legal restrictions on rights and freedoms of  a child  for respect of the rights or reputations of others,  for protection of national security,  public order,  public health or morals or when the exercise of these rights can be harmful to the child, his or her physical or moral health and normal growth and development;

5) a principle of priority of parents’ rights for upbringing and development of their children and a principle of presumption of responsible parenting;

6) taking due account of importance of traditions and cultural values of each people for  protection and harmonious development of the child.  

  1.        Federal Law on Basic Guarantees of the Rights of the Child in the Russian Federation enshrines basic guarantees of rights and legal interests of the child with a view to providing legal, organizational, social and economic conditions for their enforcement in compliance with generally recognized rules of the international law.
  2.        The Russia’s National Strategy on youth policies provides for a set of measures on opening-up opportunities and creating conditions for successful socialization and personal fulfilment of young people, their capacity building for the benefit of the country.  The national youth policy is implemented by state authorities and local government bodies with participation of youth and children’s public associations, NGOs and other entities and persons.

Priorities of national children’s and youth policies are also defined in the Concept for long-term social and economic development of the Russian Federation up to 2020 and in Federal law on state support to youth and children’s public associations.

  1.        Russia’s state policy on protection of family, motherhood, fatherhood and childhood was actively shaped in 2010 through 2014. In its framework significant steps to improve situation of children and families with underage children were taken.

In the context of the present deteriorating economic situation, the National Strategy of Action in the interests of children for 2012-2017 was approved by  Presidential Decree of June 1, 2012.  The Strategy serves to enforce effective international standards applicable to the rights of children; shape a common approach in setting tasks and goals, priorities and first-order measures concerning child welfare for state authorities and local government bodies, civil society institutions and individuals.

The National Strategy is drafted in line with the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2012 – 2015 and is aimed at:

 

Presidential Coordination Council for Implementing the National Children’s Strategy for 2012-2017 was formed and a plan of action was approved to unite efforts of relevant state authorities and civil society organizations to solve burning problems in the sphere of childhood, motherhood, fatherhood and family protection at a federal level.

National Strategy is being implemented now through six main dimensions:

 

  1. family policy of childhood safeguarding;
  2. accessibility of good education and development, cultural advancement and keeping children safe in infosphere;
  3. child-friendly healthcare and a healthy lifestyle; 
  4. equal opportunities for children who need specific state care;
  5. mechanisms to protect rights and interests of children and child-friendly justice;
  6. participation of children in implementation of the National Strategy. 
  1.        Additional guarantees of child’s rights to health care, education, housing, rest and health rehabilitation, maintenance of the child by parents or carers were introduced.

 

  1.        Since September 1, 2013 Federal Law “On education in the Russian Federation” has been governing rights of minors in the sphere of preschool, general school and vocational education.

Moreover, the exercise of the child’s right to education is subject to and governed by the National Doctrine of Education of the Russian Federation,  Federal Special Purpose Program of the Development of Education 2011 – 2015 and   State Program “Education Development 2013 – 2020”.

To make preschool education services accessible is one of the priorities to inspire the economic activity of families with small children. In compliance with Presidential Decree of May 7, 2012 “On Implementing State Policy in the areas of Science and Education” active measures to eliminate queues for child care places for children between 3 and 7 years old and to achieve the full accessibility of preschool education by 2016 are being taken.

  1.        In 2012 the Government enacted legislative measures to encourage a healthy lifestyle and to promote physical, mental and moral health of children and youth.

The Concept of the Demographic Policy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025 is presently underway. In its context the liability for sale of alcohol drinks to minors was increased and Federal Law On Public Health Protection against consequences of tobacco consumption was adopted. Due to this law accessibility of tobacco products for children has been reduced and smoking in public places has been banned.  

  1.        On April 3, 2012 Russia’s President enacted the Concept of a national system to identify and develop young talents. The Concept sets tasks to improve professional skills of teachers and mentors, provide high quality educational content, introduce up-to-date teaching aids and develop mechanisms for the search and support of gifted children and young people.
  2.        Federal and regional authorities and regional commissioners for children’s rights are gradually realizing measures on prevention of family ill-being and social orphanhood and on development and promotion of various forms of family-based placement of orphans and protection of their rights and legal interests.

Following its national and international obligations our government takes steps to improve socioeconomic condition of families. Among the most effective measures are: 

On January 1, 2007 a maternity (family) capital program was introduced as an additional measure of the state support of families for the birth of the second or each child thereafter. The maternity (family) capital is not taxable and is adjusted to allow for inflation. Over 5 million families have already got state certificates for maternity (family) capital.

Regional maternity capital programs funded from the constituent entity budgets are launched in 72 regions of the Russian Federation. The regional maternity capital may be used to improve living conditions and to educate children. In some regions the regional maternity capital can be spent for child’s treatment, buying a transport facility, home repair, lump-sum payments and for other needs of the family.

10.  On August 25, 2014 the Government approved the Concept of the State Family Policy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025”.   The Concept focuses on reducing poverty among families with children, enhancing social assistance to unemployable family members, enforcement of the right to housing for families with children. It is aimed at:

- protecting, enhancing and supporting the family and family values;

- providing conditions necessary for the family to can perform its social functions;

- improving family living conditions.

Among its main goals there are:

    - social protection of families and children who need special State support.

11. The Government approved a program “Housing for a Russian Family” in the framework of the federal program “Providing citizens of the Russian Federation with affordable and comfortable housing and -quality housing and utilities services” to provide housing affordability. With a view of developing tools to support families that need their living conditions to be improved, the program provides for:

-favorable residential mortgage for young families and families with children who gain unassisted housing;

-state support to young families in improving their living conditions;

-system of  affordable rental and subsidized municipal housing for young families and families with many children;

-conditions to encourage families to gain economy class housing;

-housing for multi-child families that need  better living conditions also through private public partnerships;

-plots of land for families with many children;

- housing for orphans and children without parental care.

12. Among other measures being presently implemented there are:

13. Russia’s President sets tasks to provide conditions so that women could combine fulfilment of their child-upbringing responsibilities with working and to organize training or retraining of women who are on maternity leave until a child is three years old.

All the constituent entities of the Russian Federation have already adopted relevant regional programs for 2013 – 2015, The programs provides for: 

Due to the taken actions a rate of unemployment among women between 20 and 49 years of age with children aged 0 – 6 years has gone down from 8.4% to 6.6. % in the last five years, while their employment level has gone up from 62.8% to 63.7%.

In 2013, nearly 135 thousand women having preschool children were sent for occupational training and 125 785 mothers completed the course. For the similar purposes in 2014 it is planned to allocate 140.1 million rubles from regional funds.

Regional programs on small and medium-sized businesses support are presently being provided to help social entrepreneurs especially it concerns mothers with children under three years old.

  1.  We continue our work to improve the economic self-reliance of the family through involving regional government authorities, commissioners for children’s rights, trade unions, unions of enterpreneurs and industrialists, in particular through:  
  1. The State is presently handling problems on development of a system of the state support to families inter alia at child birth and for child upbringing. It provides for:

Annual monitoring of incomes and living standards of families and identification of reasons for poverty among families with children;

Enhancement of government-guaranteed measures on social support for families with children including foster families;

Provision of  ultimate nutrition for pregnant women and nursing mothers in need and for low-income families having infants, preschool and school-aged children;

Provision of  affordable food stuff  for families in need.

Citizens with children receive 8 types of allowances from the federal budget, inter alia:  maternity allowance, a lump-sum payment for women who register at medical establishments in the early stages of pregnancy, a lump-sum payment at the child birth, a monthly nursing benefit until the child reaches the age of 18 months, a lump-sum payment when a child is placed in family-based care. Over 3.67 million minors under 18 years old have already been entitled to social support from regional budget resources of the constituent entities. One in three minor under 16 years of age from socially vulnerable families (in other words nearly 8.5 million minors) is granted monthly allowance.  At present almost 580 thousand children with disabilities under 18 years of age receive social pensions and over 583 thousand disabled children receive monthly monetary payments. Nearly 34 thousand minors with disabilities are provided with health resort treatment every year.

  1. Actions taken by the State to support families with underage children have already led to unparalleled results in our combating child ill-being. In the last five years:

 

In 2010 the number of orphans registered in the State Database went down by 6,000 children, in 2013 – by 12,400 children.

Regional systems of material encouragement for adopters have already been set up, measures on facilitation of the adoption/foster procedure and reduction of time for the placement procedures have been provided, and persons who adopt or foster children with disabilities get considerable additional payments.

  1. Federal Act of 1 September 2012 “On Protection of children from information harmful to their health and development” contributes to providing favorable conditions for child upbringing and preventing violence and abuse in peer groups. This law sets legally binding rules for content/information producers, distributors and providers to make circulation of information products safe for children; provides for procedural and institutional mechanisms for age classification of information products, “time borderline” between TV-programs for children and adults  and other proven measures to keep children safe in media environment including legal  safeguards to protect children against crimes committed via the ICT.

The Concept of keeping children and youth safe in mediasphere was built up to implement this law more effectively.

On June 1 2013 a Russian-wide information awareness campaign against violence and cruelty in mass media and other ICT means was launched. The campaign provides for a package of information, educational, awareness-raising and organizational measures to ensure child safety in digital environment. It is aimed at: 

- redicing violence and cruelty in mass media,

- raising public awareness about risks and challenges for children in modern media environment and about new legal acts applicable to this area;

- developing self-regulation and civic watch in media environment.

  1. Knowledge and awareness of children about their rights and accessible advisory assistance, establishment of relevant state authorities ensure the exercise of children’s rights.

In 2011 Russia’s President approved Fundamental Principles of State Policy on Developing Legal Knowledge and Awareness among Citizens up to 2020. In this context the government designed and launched the Plan of Action

Later Federal Law on providing free legal aid in the Russian Federation was adopted; certain sectoral legislations were amended with the view of formalizing principles, legal grounds and forms of free legal aid. The right to free legal aid is granted to orphan children, children without parental care or to their legal representatives if they seek legal advice in matters concerning protection and enforcement of rights and legal interests of such children.

  1. For the purposes of additional guarantees of better protection of Russian children’s rights and best interests the Institution of Commissioner for Children’s Rights was established by Presidential Executive Order No. 986 on September 1, 2009. Over the past period commissioners have been appointed in all the 85 regions of Russia and the institution of children’s rights commissioners has become a crucial element of the national system for protection of family, motherhood, fatherhood and childhood

Regional commissioners for children’s rights are to:

Commissioners take steps to form an independent system of child’s rights protection at different levels of power and in children’s establishments of different types.

 

  1.   Federal law of July 27, 2010 On alternative procedure of dispute resolution with participation of a mediator (mediation procedure) is very important for the work with families at social risk; for prevention of child removal from his or her family; for improvement of child-parent relationships.

In July 2014 the Russian Government adopted the Concept of mediation service networking in the Russian Federation up to 2017 to implement restorative justice in regard to children. Later the appropriate Plan of Action was drafted. Enforcement of legal guarantees and provision of prioritized rights of parents to raise their underage children as well as family protection against unlawful interference in one’s private life are presently in focus. 

  1. Russia’s commissioners for children’s rights, diplomats and the whole parental community are deeply concerned about drastic methods of family and child welfare regulation practiced by certain European countries. These methods are unacceptable from perspective of our judicial system and mentality as they are in conflict with Russian time-honored historical, cultural and national traditions of family education.

Our country has repeatedly expressed concern about judgments of European family courts that served a basis for child removals from well-to-do families under protests of parents. It seriously violated their right to upbringing their own children and their right of privacy.

In this connection the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution 1908 (2012) “Human rights and family courts” saying that the Parliamentary Assembly is concerned “about the functioning of family courts in some member States of the Council of Europe, and especially about cases where children are taken away against the will of their parents and in violation of the right to respect for family life and the principle of a fair trial”.

The State may not disrupt basic human relationships between parents and a child. Removal of a child from his or her family may be used only as a measure of last resort. It may be justified only if there is a real threat to the child’s health and life on the part of parents or they are committing crime against their child.

Social services of Russia and other countries must follow the principle that family environment provides the best conditions for child upbringing and development and respect right of privacy and act in the best interests of the child.


Appendix 6

 

Recent developments of the sphere of labour and social protection in Armenia

With the purpose of making transition to more flexible, so called active policy of employment a number of measures have been initiated,  which are specified in the Strategy of the Republic of Armenia on Employment for 2013-2018. Based on the Strategy a new law “On Employment” has been elaborated, which entered into force in 2014. The new law also envisages introduction of quota mechanizm for employment of people with disabilities.

After ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010 the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia started to draft a new Law “On protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and their social inclusion” based on the provisions of the Convention, as well as the Council of Europe Disability Action Plan for 2006-2015. The draft law, which is now at the National Assembly for adoption, ensures “non-discrimination against persons with disabilities and accessibility of all spheres of social life” as the main principle of social policy in the sphere. Also a new model of disability determination based on the principles of the WHO International Classification of Functioning is being introduced.

In 2013 the RA law On Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities of Women and Men” was adopted, the aim of which is legal protection from gender-based discrimination. 

Also important documents concerning gender issues for the period 2011-2015 are the Strategic Programme of Gender Policy and the National Programme against gender- based violence.

The reforms in the sphere of children issues are being implemented in Armenia according to the Starategic Programme of Child Rights Protection for 2013-2016. One of the priorities of this sphere is deinstitutionalization of child care institutions and prevention of new placements in those institutions.

In 2013 The Government of the RA adopted the fourth National Action Plan on the Organization of Fight against Trafficking for 2013-2015, which is being carried out in three main directions: prevention, protection and support. Also a project with the assistance of NGOs on Public Support to Victims of Trafficking is being implemented.

In 2014 the Cumulative component of the pension system was launched and the System of integrated social services is being introduced.

 


Appendix 7

 

List of decisions of the 2nd meeting of the CDDECS and deadlines

 

CDDECS decided

Deadline

To form 6 ad hoc working groups to prepare “concept papers”, including ideas, possible speakers, experts etc. for each planned activity

 

Working groups by 10 December 2014

 

Concept papers by end of January 2015

 

to discuss in the bureau the concept papers in its meeting in February 2015.

 

 

to discuss in the plenary in May 2015  possible post-2015 agenda.

 

 

 

Results of the review of Social Cohesion strategy to the secretariat by end of August 2015

 

to forward GEC’s Annual Report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017 to the Committee of Ministers.

 

 

to send the revised version of the questionnaire on child friendly social services to the member States.

 

For comments by 15 December 2014

 

Replies by end of March 2015

 

to further discuss the draft questionnaire on child friendly health care during the next CDDECS bureau meeting.

 

19-20 February 2015

To have DECS-RPD prepare a reply to CLRA recommendation 361/2014.

 

To circulate for possible comments by the CDDECS.

 

January 2015.

 

 

 

Deadline for the reply to the CM is 31.1.2015

to request member States to send in written contributions on recent developments prior to the plenary meetings.

 

 

to hold its 3rd plenary session in Strasbourg on 27-29 May 2015.

 

The 4th plenary session will take place in Strasbourg in November /December 2015.  Dates to be decided by the Bureau in its February meeting.