The Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Dignity (former Current Affairs Committee) is responsible for ensuring contributions by local and regional authorities to the promotion and implementation of Council of Europe’s core values in the areas of social cohesion, equality and non-discrimination. 

According to its mandate, the Committee works on thematic issues including:

•    Safeguarding fundamental rights, democracy and equality at subnational level in the face of emerging challenges, including social care, migration, human trafficking, media freedom and access to information, as well as the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence;

•    Combatting various forms of discrimination and violence against vulnerable groups of population, such as older persons, migrants and refugees, LGBTIQ and others;

•    Supporting youth and youth policies.

In terms of working methods, the Committee prepares reports for Congress Plenary or Chamber sessions, contributes to the development of normative instruments and organises conferences, hearings or study visits linked to its work programme. 

Activities by the Committee shall be led in accordance with the Congress priorities, as revised in the light of the Council of Europe Reykjavík Declaration “United around our values” and based on the rights guaranteed by European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No.5), the European Social Charter (ETS No.163), as well as other relevant Council of Europe standards. The Committee shall also support the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

Related to its focus topics, the Committee shall follow and maintain working relations with other Council of Europe bodies, including subsidiary bodies of the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Commissioner for Human Rights and the Conference of International NGO, as well as with other European and international organisations, thus contributing to the impact and visibility of Congress work.