Social Rights

Following the call for proposal 2023 to support national human rights institutions and national equality bodies in the field of social and economic rights as guaranteed by the European Social Charter, the Council of Europe Department of Social Rights has granted financial support to the following two institutions:

• The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) of Malta for the implementation of the project “Capacity Building for the staff of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (with a focus on Article E on non-discrimination)”

The objectives of the project are to enhance the capacity of the NCPE’s Commission and staff members on the European Social Charter, its implementation by equality bodies and the effective use of the reporting mechanisms under the treaty; to strengthen the members’ skills in using the Charter as a tool in the fulfilment of their duties including the NCPE’s investigative and promotional functions, and in recommendations to policy-makers and legislators; to have a report documenting the knowledge and learnings covered by the current capacity building initiative; to raise awareness on the European Social Charter, equality and non-discrimination among the general public and specific targeted groups. The implementation period is 17 April – 30 November 2023.

• The Protector of Citizens of Serbia for the implementation of the project “Collaboration in monitoring and advancing economic and social rights”

The objective of the project is to enhance the potential of the Serbian Ombudsman to collaborate with institutions and organisations at the local and national level for continuous monitoring of economic and social rights as laid down in the European Social Charter. The implementation period is 10 June - 10 December 2023.

The call for proposals was launched on 3 February 2023 and the implementation of the project is to be finalised before the end of 2023. The call was open to all ENNHRI and EQUINET members from the Council of Europe member states.