European Committee of Social Rights Published its Findings on 33 States

24-03-2022

Manon Picard

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), who monitors Member States of the Council of Europe’s compliance with the European Social Charter, published on the 23rd of March 2022 its conclusions in respect of 33 Member States. The conclusions focused on three distinct aspects: health, social security, and social protection. In its conclusions, the ECSR adopted 401 conclusions with “165 non-conformity and 110 conclusions of conformity with the Charter”. Moreover, in 126 cases the situation could not be assessed due to a lack of information. 

Regarding health and safety, the ECSR found that some States did not include self-employed and domestic workers within their occupational health and safety regulations. In addition, insufficient measures have been taken to combat the rising number of work-related accidents as the majority of States have a shortage of labour inspectorates. The ECSR’s findings regarding life expectancy are concerning as they reveal that “wide differences exist between men and women, regions, urban and rural areas, levels of education and income”. The Committee also found that many States’ expenditures towards their healthcare system was insufficient which could not guarantee the rights of all citizens. 

As for social security, the ECSR “once again found little or no progress” in many Member States. This conclusion mainly focused on the inadequate minimum level of income-replacement benefits with “unemployment, sickness and disability benefits in many countries fall[ing] below 40% of median equivalised income”. 

The last area addressed by the ECSR in its conclusions, social protection, demonstrated that the level of social assistance remained below the poverty threshold. Additionally, in many Member States, older persons “lack adequate resources enabling them to lead a decent life and play an active role in the community” with legislation prohibiting discrimination still lacking. The ECSR addressed the exacerbating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on rising levels of poverty in many States with measures to remedy such a problem being “insufficient”. 

It is to be noted, however, that the ECSR was more than satisfied with the measures taken to “strengthen health and safety at work, access to healthcare for the homeless, health and sexuality education at schools and or positive measures regarding the rights of LGBTI persons”.

Sources and further reading:

Council of Europe. (2022, March 23). European Committee of Social Rights’ Conclusions on Health, Social Security and Social Protection. Newsroom – Council of Europe. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/european-committee-of-social-rights-conclusions-on-health-social-security-and-social-protection

Council of Europe. (2022, March 23). European Committee of Social Rights’ Conclusions on Health, Social Security and Social Protection. Media Release – Council of Europe. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://search.coe.int/directorate_of_communications/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectId=0900001680a5e1bc

Council of Europe. (2022, March). European Social Charter and European Committee of Social Rights. https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter/european-committee-of-social-rights