Social rights of children, families and migrants are in danger in Europe, according to the latest annual conclusions from the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR).
The Committee has published 896 conclusions (289 cases of non-conformity, 453 cases of conformity and 154 “deferrals”: cases not assessed due to lack of information), in respect of 37 European countries (*). In the framework of the reporting procedure the ECSR assessed compliance with the European Social Charter in respect of the following Charter provisions relating to children, families and migrants, as follows:
- the right of children and young persons to protection (Article 7);
- the right of employed women to protection of maternity (Article 8);
- the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection (Article 16);
- the right of children and young persons to social, legal and economic protection (Article 17);
- the right of migrant workers and their families to protection and assistance (Article 19);
- the right of workers with family responsibilities to equal opportunity and treatment (Article 27);
- the right to housing (Article 31).
The main findings concern child labour, including illegally working children in the formal and informal economy, as well as the protection of children from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation.
The Committee is increasingly concerned about the treatment of children in an irregular migration situation, whether they be accompanied or not, and asylum seeking children, in particular their access to appropriate and safe accommodation.
Committee’s assessments of follow-up given to decisions in collective complaints: Croatia, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden.
(*) List of countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands Curacao, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
