Conference on "Social Resilience and Health Equity: a human right prospective for better resilience and preparedness", organised in the framework of the Italian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

22 February, Online

Dear Minister,

Dear Chair of the CDBIO,

Ladies and gentlemen,

wish at the outset to express my gratitude to the Italian authorities for supporting this event in the context of their Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. This illustrates their long-standing commitment to protecting human rights, including patients' rights, which have been challenged by the pandemic in all member States.

Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on individuals, families and communities across Europe. If there are signs of improvements, uncertainties still remain as to the mid- and long-term impact of this public health crisis.

It has shed light on and exacerbated existing inequalities between and within countries and created new ones with long-term consequences that are still difficult to foresee.

Health inequalities represent a significant challenge for policy makers worldwide, including in Europe.

The current public health crisis provides an opportunity to place equity at the heart of governments' action and to take measures to combat health inequalities. This will contribute to a better preparedness and resilience to future health crises.

The Council of Europe has unique instruments to support and strengthen member States’ capacities to comply with human rights standards in the context of public health crises. I would mention of course the European Convention on Human Rights, but also the European Social Charter and the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (“the Oviedo Convention”).

I would also mention the Medicrime Convention, which has shown its relevance during the pandemic as a tool to combat the counterfeiting of medicines and medical products.

The Organisation has been quick to react by providing its member States with tools and expertise to ensure that the crisis does not undermine our common values and principles.

I would refer in particular to the Toolkit which the Secretary General of the Council of Europe presented back in April 2020 and her document called “A Council of Europe contribution to support member states in addressing healthcare issues in the context of the present public health crisis and beyond” published last year, where she called for greater solidarity and better co-ordination among member States in responding to this crisis.

She also recalled member States’ duty to protect the life and health of all members of society, in particular by ensuring equitable access to health care, with particular attention to persons in vulnerable situations.

I would also like to mention the Statement of the Committee on Bioethics regarding human rights considerations relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, issued in April 2020, which has underlined the link between human rights and solidarity.

Some individuals and groups are, as we all know, systematically disadvantaged when it comes to health. I will only mention a few of them: people in situation of poverty, in particular single-parent families, the homeless, the Roma, migrants and refugees. Strategies must be developed to ensure appropriate support for them, which should include the removal of any barriers in accessing healthcare services.

International cooperation is instrumental to achieve this objective and to ensure better preparedness to public health crisis.

The Council of Europe provides a unique platform to exchange good practices, and to support member States in their efforts to address the challenges at stake.

Among the initiatives taken by the Council of Europe, I would like to mention the new Council of Europe multilateral co-operation project proposed to this end by the Secretary General some months ago, which is open to all member States.

I would encourage all countries to join this project so that the pan-European "common home” mentioned by the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Della Vedova, becomes more solid and better prepared for the future. A common home where no one is left behind, where all individuals are treated equally and have in particular equitable access to health care services.

We should not underestimate the importance of these principles. Through them, it is the whole cohesion of our societies and their democratic foundations that are at stake.

I trust that the discussions that will take place during this conference will contribute to this objective and I would like to thank all the speakers who have agreed to make presentations.