Social Rights

 The European Committee of Social Rights,

• Deeply concerned about the lives and human rights of the people in Ukraine following the Russian Federation’s military aggression in and against Ukraine as well as about the situation of all refugees, asylum seekers and others fleeing the conflict;
• Recalling that the aim of the Charter, as an instrument of the Council of Europe, is the achievement of greater unity between the Council of Europe member States for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage, and of facilitating their economic and social progress, in particular by the maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• Recalling also that, by signing the Charter, the member States of the Council of Europe agreed to secure to their populations the social rights specified therein in order to improve their standard of living and their social wellbeing;
• Noting the Committee of Ministers Resolutions on the cessation of membership of the Russian Federation to the Council of Europe (CM/Res(2022)2, 16 March 2022), and on legal and financial consequences of the cessation of membership of the Russian Federation in the Council of Europe (CM/Res(2022)3, 23 March 2022);
• Aware of its responsibilities and competences under Article 24 of the 1961 European Social Charter as amended by the 1991 Amending Protocol, which consist of assessment from a legal standpoint of the compliance of national law and practice with the obligations arising from the Charter for the States Parties;

Emphasises that military aggression against another State Party is per se inconsistent with the spirit and purposes of the European Social Charter and with all the specific commitments undertaken by the States Parties under Part II of the Charter;

Considers that the current crisis caused by the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine should not have as a consequence the reduction of the protection of the rights recognised by the Charter, both within Ukraine and beyond its borders, and that the States Parties to the Charter are bound to take all necessary steps to ensure that Charter rights are effectively guaranteed at all times, including, where necessary, through international assistance and cooperation."

  Statement of the European Committee of Social Rights