Sustainable economic and social recovery based on an equality and human rights approach
On July 9, took place the online meeting on ”Sustainable economic and social recovery based on an equality and human rights approach”.The event was organized by the Collaborative Platform on Social and Economic Rightsconsisting of the Council of Europe (CoE), the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), of which RIHR is a member, and the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET).
The discussions tackled the consequences that the COVID-19 pandemic had on states, but also their ability to manage the negative effects of the crisis. The measures taken by the states have had a different impact on different categories of people, and highlighted issues that society already faces: inequality, cohesion, poverty, exclusion, access to community services, or the lack of such services. Among the categories of people most affected are children (from disadvantaged families), Roma, older persons, single-parent families, people with disabilities, migrants, but also health personnel.
Participants found that at the global and European regional level there is no positive attitude towards human rights in states’ approach/discourse on economic recovery, although the recovery measures should be based more than ever on the realization of economic and social rights, taking into account the provisions of the European Social Charter and the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and respecting the commitments on sustainable development.
In this regard, it is necessary for human rights and equality institutions to become real partners for policy makers (government, parliament), so that measures taken at the national level respect the human rights-based approach. Therefore, these institutions must play an active role in developing recovery measures, by providing assistance, information, and expertise in accordance with their mandate.
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