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Strasbourg, 29 May 2015CDDECS (2015)RAP 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL COHESION,

HUMAN DIGNITY AND EQUALITY

(CDDECS)

 

 

Abridged Report

 

3RD MEETING

 

27-29 May 2015

 

 

 

 

Council of Europe, Strasbourg

Palais de l’Europe, Room 11

Avenue de l’Europe


Introduction

  1. The European Committee for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality (CDDECS) held its 3rd meeting from 27 to 29 May 2015 in Strasbourg.
  2. The agenda was adopted as set out in Appendix 1 to this report.

Election of the Chair, Vice-chair and one Member of the Bureau

  1. The Committee agreed by consensus on the continuation of the mandates for the remaining term of the CDDECS (2015) of the:
    • Chair Ms Carlien Scheele (Netherlands),
    • Vice-Chair Mr Alexis Rinckenbach (France)
    • Member of the Bureau Ms Maria Oreshina (Russian Federation)

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

  1. The committee participated in the roundtable discussion on social inclusion with external experts and was also informed of national good practices of their respective countries. The Roundtable program is found in Appendix 2 to this report.

Exchange of views with the Deputy Secretary General, Ms Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni

  1. The committee had an exchange of views with the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the future focus of the Council of Europe in the areas covered by the committee’s mandate and on the priorities of the Secretary General for the next years. Reference was made to the second annual report by the Secretary General on the State of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe, published on 19 May 2015 and its focus on social rights. The committee stressed the importance of continuing its work on social cohesion in the future.

Review of the Social Cohesion Strategy and Action Plan

  1. The committee discussed the results of the working group questionnaire, which received 25 replies.
  2. The committee decided that the ad hoc working group, chaired by France (other members are Belgium, Republic of Moldova, Poland, the Russian Federation and Turkey) will prepare by mid October 2015 a concept paper: The Way Ahead on the future work on social cohesion, taking into account the statement made by the Deputy Secretary General during the exchange of views and the results of the questionnaire.
  3. It was further decided that the Bureau of the CDDECS will discuss the draft in its October meeting, with a view to finalising the work in time before the Committee of Ministers decides the budgetary requirements for the next biennium.

Work of the other CDDECS ad hoc –working groups

  1. The committee discussed the concept papers of the remaining ad hoc-working groups that outlined the activities planned for later in 2015 and 2016, as decided during the 2nd plenary meeting of the CDDECS, held in November 2014.
  2. In order to increase cooperation and synergy within the committee, the committee decided to organise, during its 4th plenary meeting in December 2015, the hearing on social inclusion of all persons, jointly with the roundtable discussion on the role of equality bodies, national Human Rights Institutions, and ombudsmen in promoting equality.
  3. The committee decided to postpone the work on an exchange of good practices against discrimination and stereotypes on any ground and the feasibility study/green book on existing materials for awareness on equality/discrimination and human rights for social workers, police, health sector professionals, legal professionals, etc.

Gender Equality Commission (DECS-GEC)

  1. The committee took note of the recent activities of the DECS-GEC.
  2. The committee decided to invite the Secretary General to present the proposed Terms of Reference of the DECS-GEC (2016-2017) to the Committee of Ministers for adoption.

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

  1. The committee took note of the recent activities of the DECS-RPD, including the evaluation of the implementation of the current Disability Action Plan in Member States.
  2. The committee decided to invite the Secretary General to present the proposed Terms of Reference of the DECS-RPD (2016-2017) to the Committee of Ministers for adoption.

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

  1. The committee took note of the recent activities of the DECS-ENF regarding the draft strategy for the rights of children. The draft strategy will be brought before the CDDECS in its 4th plenary in order to be sent to the Committee of Ministers for adoption by the end of 2015.

Recent conferences, seminars and developments in member States

  1. The committee took note of the recent conferences and seminars in which its members have participated.
  2. The committee members provided information on recent developments in their respective countries in writing which are published on the website of the CDDECS.

(http://www.coe.int/en/web/cddecs/home)

 

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

  1. The committee took note of the presentations made by the secretariat about:
    • The 4th general report of GRETA’s activities,
    • The first meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the Istanbul Convention and the election of members of GREVIO.
  2. The committee was given information about the ongoing review of the Council of Europe Conventions under its responsibility. Members were encouraged to discuss the matter in their respective countries in line with the document prepared by the secretariat.

Recent developments in relevant Council of Europe bodies

  1. The committee took note of the Secretary General’s 2nd report on the State of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe. The members were encouraged to read the report, take it into consideration in the review work of ad hoc-working group on the social cohesion strategy and distribute it in their respective countries.

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

  1. The committee took note of the recent developments in the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency.
  2. The committee was informed of the side events organised by the Council of Europe and some member States, together with the United Nations and other partners during various United Nations meetings.

Next meetings

  1. The committee decided to hold its 4th meeting on 9-11 December 2015. The next bureau meeting will take place on 22-23 October 2015 in Paris.

Appendix 1

Draft Order of BUSINESS

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Thursday 28 May 2015

Friday 29 May 2015

9.00-9.30

Registration

9.30

Continuation of the session

9.30

Continuation of the session

 

9.30-10.00

 

 

 

10.00-13.00

 

 

Items 1 and 2
Opening of the meeting and Adoption of the agenda

 

Item 4

4.1. Roundtable discussion on “Social inclusion of all persons and in particular of all persons in vulnerable situations and effectiveness of rights”

 

  • Ensuring social inclusion by reducing poverty

 

  • Measures required to make rights effectively accessible to vulnerable persons

 

 

9.30-12.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.00-13.00

 

 

 

Item 5 

Gender Equality Commission (DECS-GEC)

 

Item 6

Committee of Experts on the CoE strategy for the rights of the child (DECS-ENF)

 

Item 7

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

 

Item 8

Presentation of recent conferences,  seminars and developments in MS

 

 

9.30-10.30

 

 

 

 

10.30-11.30

 

 

 

11.30-13.00

 

Item 9

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

 

Item 10

Recent developments in relevant Council of Europe bodies

 

Item 11

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

 

Item 12

Dates of the next meeting

 

Item 13

Any other business

 

Item 14

Adoption of the abridged report

 

13.00-14.30

Lunch

13.00-14.30

Lunch

13.00

End of the meeting

 

14.30-16.00

 

 

 

 

 

16.00-17.00

 

 

 

17.00-18.00

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4 continued

4.1. Roundtable discussion continued

 

  • Inclusion of vulnerable groups in drafting of legislation and policies

 

4.4. Working group D - Hearing on social inclusion of all persons, and in particular of all persons in vulnerable situations

 

Item 3

Election of the chair/vice-chair of the CDDECS and election of one member of the Bureau

 

 

 

14.30-17.30

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4 continued

4.2. Working group B - Review of the Social Cohesion Strategy and Action Plan

 

4.3. Working group C - Exchange of good practices against discrimination and stereotypes on any ground.

 

4.5. Working group E - Roundtable discussion on the role of equality bodies, national human rights institutions, and ombudsmen in promoting equality.

 

4.6. Working group F - Concept paper on feasibility study/green book on existing materials for awareness on equality/discrimination and human rights

 

 

 

           

Draft Annotated agenda

 

 

Administration

FOR DECISION

 

 

Item 1

Opening of the meeting

 

Item 2

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

CDDECS (2015) OJA 1 rev

 

Item 3

Election or reappointment of the chair and vice-chair of the CDDECS and election or consensus decision on the one member of the Bureau

CDDECS (2015) 7

 

 

Work of the CDDECS Ad Hoc Working Groups

FOR DISCUSSION and DECISION

 

 

Item 4

4.1. Working group A – Roundtable discussion on “Social inclusion of all persons and in particular of all persons in vulnerable situations and effectiveness of rights”

CDDECS(2015)10

 

4.2. Working group B – Review of the Social Cohesion Strategy and Action Plan

CDDECS(2015)8

CDDECS(2015)9

 

Compilation of concept papers for the working groups A-F

CDDECS(2015)3rev

 

4.3. Working group C - Exchange of good practices against discrimination and stereotypes on any ground.

 

4.4. Working group D - Hearing on social inclusion of all persons, and in particular of all persons in vulnerable situations

4.5. Working group E - Roundtable discussion on the role of equality bodies, national human rights institutions, and ombudsmen in promoting equality.

 

4.6. Working group 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.

 

 

Work of the subordinate bodies of the CDDECS

FOR INFORMATION/DISCUSSION/DECISION

 

 

Item 5

Gender Equality Commission (DECS-GEC)

 

5.1. Recent activities with regard to gender equality

ToR doc xxxxx

Item 6

Committee of Experts on the Council of Europe strategy for the rights of the child 2016-2019 (DECS-ENF)

 

6.1. Recent activities with regard to rights of the child  

 

Item 7

Committee of Experts on the rights of people with disabilities (DECS-RPD)

 

7.1. Recent activities with regard to rights of people with disabilities 

TOR doc xxxxx

 

 

Recent developments related to the work of the CDDECS

FOR INFORMATION/DISCUSSION

 

 

Item 8

Recent conferences, seminars and developments in member States

 

8.1. Conference report and video Sami - the people, their culture and languages and Council of Europe”, 27-29 November 2014, Inari, Finland.

 

Publication

Video

 

 

8.2. Conference report "The future of the protection of social rights in Europe" - 12-13 February 2015, Brussels, Belgium 

 

8.3. Working group report “54th meeting of the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) and 32nd meeting of the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ)”, 13-15 April 2015 in Budapest, Hungary

 

8.4. Recent developments in member States  

 

Item 9

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

 

9.1. CoE Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

4th report of GRETA

 

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

 

9.3. Review of the Council of Europe Conventions under the responsibility of the CDDECS

CDDECS (2015)4

Item 10 

Recent developments in relevant Council of Europe bodies

 

10.1. Secretary General’s 2nd report on the State of Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe

 

 

Other issues

FOR INFORMATION

 

 

Item 11

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

 

11.1. Recent developments in the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency

 

11.2. UN – Commission on the Status of Women CSW 59

 

11.3. UN-COE side event on implementing linguistic minority rights, Geneva

 

Item 12

Dates of the next meeting

Bureau meeting – Paris 22-23 October 2015

4th meeting of CDDECS – Strasbourg, 9-11 December 2015

 

Item 13

Any other business

 

Item 14

Adoption of the abridged report


APPENDIX 2

Roundtable discussion

“Social inclusion of all persons and in particular of all persons in vulnerable situations and the effectiveness of rights”

Wednesday 27 May 2015

 

 

Ensuring social inclusion by reducing poverty
 

European Commission ‘s work against discrimination  and the new Report on Youth Discrimination In The European Union

 

Mr. Massimo Serpieri
Deputy Head of Unit D3 – Non-discrimination policies and Roma coordination, DG Justice and Consumers, European Commission

Example - Austria

Services to reduce youth unemployment and lack of occupation – NEET

 

(NEET - Not in education, employment or training)

Mr. Franz Svehla,

Department for Bilateral Relations and International Organizations, Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, Austria

Example – Belgium

Service to fight against poverty, insecurity and social exclusion on the local and federal level

Ms. Francoise De Boe,
coordinator, Combat Poverty, Insecurity and Social Exclusion Service

   

 

 

Measures required to make rights effectively accessible to vulnerable persons

 

Example  - Italy

Prevention of institutionalization of children from vulnerable families – P.I.P.P.I.

Prof. Paola Milani,

National scientific coordinator for the project, Padua University, Italy

Example - Netherlands

Effective inclusion of transgender persons in the society

 

Mr Sjoerd Warmerdam,

Policy Advisor, Directorate for Gender and LGBT Equality, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, The Netherlands

 

Ms. Julia Ehrt,
Executive Director, Transgender Europe

   

 

 

Inclusion of vulnerable groups in the drafting of legislation and policies

 

Inclusion of individuals/ groups of individuals via the work of INGO to the work of CoE

 

Ms. Anna Rurka

President of the Conference of the INGOs of the Council of Europe

Example - Bulgaria

  • Consultations with NGOs

Ms. Nadejda Harizanova, Bulgaria

Example – Finland

  • Statutory Participatory Mechanisms

 

  • Good practice on the participation of the LGBTI people into official decision-making

 

Ms. Martina Törnkvist,
Senior officer, International Affairs Unit, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland

 

Ms. Aija Salo,
Secretary General, Seta – LGBTI Rights in Finland