European Social Cohesion Platform

European Social Cohesion Platform Newsletter March - April 2018

European Social Cohesion Platform

Highlights of the next plenary meeting of the European Social Cohesion Platform, on 3-4 May:
- the Prospective Study ‘Making social cohesion work: best practices and challenges’ by prof. Paolo Graziano - presentation and discussion;
- a debate on the Platform’s priority ‘Protection and Integration of Migrants and Refugees’;
- exchanges of views following the recent decisions concerning the Platform

taken by the Committee of Ministers in April 2018, which relate to the implications of the cessation of Turkey’s major contributor status.

Meeting on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Hungary

On 6 March, in Budapest, an exchange of views was held between the European

Committee of Social Rights and the national authorities on the Charter's provisions which have not yet been accepted by Hungary. The exchange concerned also the collective complaints procedure.
The meeting was organised jointly by the Department of the European Social Charter of the Council of Europe and the Hungarian Ministry of Human Capacities, in the framework of the procedure provided for by Article 22 of the European Social Charter on “non-accepted provisions”.
The European Committee of Social Rights was represented by Giuseppe Palmisano, President, Monika Schlachter, Vice-President, József Hajdú, Member of the Committee and Csilla Kollonay Lehoczky, former member of the Committee.

Scotland’s Commissioner for children and young people's rights visits the Council of Europe

The Children and Young People's Commissioner of Scotland visited the Council of Europe from 19 to 21 March to

learn more about the Council of Europe’s work. The Commissioner headed a delegation that included representatives of the Children and Young People’s Commissioners of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Relevant on-going work from the Commissioner for Human Rights, the Children’s Rights Division, the European Committee of Social Rights as well as from the European Social Cohesion Platform has been presented.
The Commissioner will use this information to make sure the Council of Europe’s work is understood by people of all ages in Scotland and to explain to children and young people how this Organisation upholds the human rights of the people he represents.

Intercultural Cities Thematic Seminar on “Living together in inclusive democracies:

how can the intercultural approach

promote participation in diverse societies?”
Active citizenship is one of the goals of intercultural policies that aim at enhancing participation of the whole community as a mean to build greater inclusion. Intercultural Cities members gathered together in Tenerife (Spain), on 26-27 April, to exchange knowledge on practice, policies and initiatives that could help develop more comprehensive strategies and action plans on the topic of civil participation within diverse cities, including by providing guidance on how to mobilise and engage a diverse community.

Recent Developments in the Court's Case-law (7 February - 23 March 2018)

Ebedin Aby v. Turkey, judgment of 13.03. 2018
Applicant’s diet while he was in detention. He complained of not being

provided with meals compatible with the diet that doctors had prescribed for him, and of a deterioration in his health as a result.
The Court found in particular that the domestic authorities had not taken the necessary measures to protect the applicant’s health and well-being and had failed to ensure that his conditions of detention were adequate and respected his human dignity, in breach of Article 3 of the Convention.
Mehmet Günay et Güllü Günay v. Turkey, judgment of 20.02.2018
Allegations of medical negligence in relation to the death of the applicants’ daughter ten days after a hospital operation : violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention. (right to a fair trial within a reasonable time).
The Court found in particular that a period of some seven years and four months to adjudicate the applicants’ claim for compensation did not satisfy the “reasonable length” requirement. The Court rejected the applicants’ complaint under Article 2 (right to life) of the Convention on the grounds that it was manifestly ill-founded. It noted that the expert medical assessments and the conclusions of the domestic courts, which had been properly reasoned, had ruled out any medical error or negligence. It reiterated that it was not its task to question the findings of expert assessments.

Conference on international labour standards and equality

On 29 and 30 March, in Baku (Azerbaijan), took place a Conference organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO)

on International Labour Standards and Equality. Discussions focused on the international labour standards of ILO including standards on equality and non-discrimination, promotion of women’s access to employment and the role of gender equality and non-discrimination in improving working conditions.
The revised European Social Charter and the standards on equality and non-discrimination guaranteed by the Charter were presented by Régis Brillat, Head of Department, and Executive Secretary of the European Committee of Social Rights of the Council of Europe.

Empowering Roma and Traveller women and girls to access leadership positions is the key towards inclusion

The Council of Europe has for years observed that women are change makers and empowering Roma and Traveller women and girls to access leadership positions is the key towards the inclusion of Roma and Travellers into society. The Case of Roma and Traveller Women” (Strasbourg, 6-7 November 2017) was a pledge on political representation of Roma and Traveller Women to promote gender equality and the participation of women from minority groups, in particular Roma and Traveller women, in decision-making bodies and in political representation at the next European, national, regional and local elections. This pledge has already been signed by members of political parties/groups and on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2018, political leaders/parties were encouraged to show support and commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s political participation, in particular from Roma and/or Traveller minority background, by signing this pledge.

New web-page: child-friendly information for children in migration and life projects

The Council of Europe has launched a

web-page on child-friendly information in migration and life projects. The new web-page provides all the information, reports and multimedia resources related to the topic as a report on children’s and expert’s findings and recommendations on child-friendly information for children in migration gathered at a Roundtable in November 2017; a short video compiling children’s views and recommendations about the information they received on their journey to and through Europe; a photo-gallery showing children’s views and recommendations about child-friendly information in the context of migration and more information about life projects for unaccompanied children.

Spaces of Inclusion - An explorative study on needs of refugees and migrants in the domain of media communication and on responses by community media

The study has been prepared by experts of the COMMIT Community Media Institute in Austria. Based on individual interviews, the report, published on 26-02-2018 by the Council of Europe, explores the media habits and particular needs of refugees and migrants in the domain of media communication.

The European Social Cohesion Platform (PECS) has been represented at the International Conference ‘Future of Work’

(Sofia, 21-22 March)

The International Conference ‘Future of Work’ was organised in Sofia, on 21 and 22 March, in the framework of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event aimed at sharing views and knowledge on the challenges and opportunities that arise in the context of a highly digitalised and fast-paced world of work.Jerzy Chiechanski, member of the European Social Cohesion Platform (PECS), represented the Platform at this event. Under the Session on ‘New forms of work organisation, working conditions and job security’, he gave a presentation on ‘4-Day Workweek’, a topic which constitutes a new trend as companies adjust to technological change and which will be focused upon at the next meeting of the Platform in May.EU Ministers for Employment and Social Policy should discuss the conclusions of the two-day conference during the EU Council meeting in June.

CEB approves financing for eight new social projects

On16 March 2018, at its meeting held in Paris, the Administrative Council of the Council of Europe Development Bank

(CEB) approved eight new loans worth a total of €690 million.

Final Evaluation Conference of the No Hate Speech Movement Youth Campaign - Education, awareness raising, solidarity and cooperation are keys in combatting hate speech

The No Hate Speech Movement Youth Campaign was initiated by the Council of Europe in 2012. It was prolonged in May 2015 until the end of 2017 by the Committee of Ministers, as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan on the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism.The Evaluation Conference took place from 10 to 12 April 2018 at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg bringing together over 150 actors from the various campaign stakeholders, to look at achievements and consider future action. The European campaign comes to a close, but, as many national campaigns continue, it is important to focus on how to keep the movement alive, youthful and relevant.The conference conclusions provide inspiration and strong call for coherent action on hate speech.

The Committee of experts on quality journalism in the digital age (MSI-JOQ)

The Committee of experts on quality journalism in the digital age (MSI-JOQ), which operates under the guidance of the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), held its 1st meeting on 8 and 9 March in Strasbourg. The Committee is working on a draft recommendation on promoting a favourable environment for quality journalism in the digital age and on a study on the promotion of media and information literacy in the digital environment.

Committee of experts on Human Rights Dimensions of automated data processing and different forms of artificial intelligence (MSI-AUT)

The Committee of experts on Human Rights Dimensions of automated data processing and different forms of artificial intelligence (MSI-AUT), which operates under the guidance of the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), held its 1st meeting on 6 and 7 March in Strasbourg. The Committee is working on the preparation of a possible standard setting instrument on the basis of the study on the human rights dimensions of automated data processing techniques (in particular algorithms) and possible regulatory implications. MSI-AUT will also carry out a study on the development and use of new digital technologies and services, including different forms of artificial intelligence, as they may impact peoples’ enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the digital age with a view to give guidance for future standard setting in this field. Furthermore, MSI-AUT will carry out a study on a possible standard setting instrument on forms of liability and jurisdictional issues in the application of civil and administrative defamation laws in Council of Europe member states.

13th meeting of the Gender Equality Commission

Strasbourg 11-13 April 2018

The Council of Europe Gender Equality Commission (GEC) discussed the forthcoming conference to launch the new Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023, and the ongoing work of the Drafting Committee preparing a Committee of Minister’s recommendation to prevent and combat sexism. It also adopted its “Work Plan for 2018-2019”. Discussions were held with a representative of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Deputy Executive Director of the North-South Centre, the Gender Equality Rapporteur of the CAHROM, as well as representatives from other Council of Europe sectors (Violence against Women, Media and Counter-Terrorism), as well as thematic debates on gender equality and youth, women in sports, and policies on the gender pay gap.

34th session of the Congress of Local And Regional Authorities

As a follow-up to its work on the reception and integration of migrants, the Congress held a debate during its 34th session on unaccompanied refugee children and the

role and responsibilities of local and regional authorities in this matter. A resolution and a recommendation were adopted and stress the need for a child-rights-based approach and call on member States to end the detention of children and develop suitable alternative care arrangements.Besides, 40 youth delegates participated in the 34th Session of the Congress: Aged 18 to 30, from 40 Council of Europe member States, these young people were invited for the first time to take part in all of the debates and meetings and put questions to invited guests.

Parliamentary Assembly - Resolution (2018) 2197 The case for a Citizenship income

On 23 January a resolution on citizenship income, or basic income, on the basis of the report by Nunzia Catalfo (Italy, NR), was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly.The Assembly considers that the introduction of a citizenship - which is defined as “universal, individual, unconditional and sufficient to ensure living in dignity" - would relieve poverty and guarantee equal opportunity for all. The resolution stresses that this citizenship income would supplement earnings for those engaged in non-standard forms of work and job-sharing, those who are underemployed or those in unpaid work.However, given the practical difficulties of such a radical change in social policy, the Assembly believes that an in-depth debate is necessary in each country to determine the modalities for this basic income, and the ways of funding it. The adopted text proposes a series of recommendations to the member States, inviting them, in particular, to study the past and present initiatives of field-testing different formulas of basic income at local, regional or national level.

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