Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights in Chișinău: Consolidated efforts needed to ensure social rights

Authorities must strengthen their efforts and build new partnerships to ensure that citizens’ social rights are respected, this being a basic condition for the development of democracies. The opinion was expressed today by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty at the High-Level Conference on Social Rights – European Social Charter, organized for the first time in Chișinău.

“I urge you, through action plans, to strengthen the efforts of local and regional authorities, to build partnerships between the local and central levels, in order to provide, among other things, affordable housing. I wish for us to achieve the objectives set out in the European Social Charter so that we obtain true social justice and equity,” said Michael O’Flaherty.

The appeal was launched in the context in which, according to the official, there are situations where “social needs are not met and implemented.”

“For example, the needs of families are not being met when it comes to housing. There are people, especially women, who face discrimination in access to healthcare. I hear from parents who every day are forced to choose whether to feed or clothe their children. Things are much worse if, for example, you are from the Roma community or belong to the LGBT community,” the Commissioner for Human Rights stated.

Michael O’Flaherty noted that poverty affects every area of development, including children, and statistical data show that in 2024, 95 million children were exposed to the risk of poverty and social exclusion.

“That is why the fight against child poverty is one of the priorities in my mandate as Commissioner for Human Rights,” the official said.

The Commissioner stressed the need for states around the world to demonstrate a pragmatic approach in ensuring social rights, to sign and ratify the revised European Social Charter, and to implement collective complaints procedures, while allowing non-governmental organizations to submit complaints.

For the first time, the Republic of Moldova is hosting the High-Level Conference on Social Rights – European Social Charter. The event is taking place on Thursday, 19 March, in Chișinău, in the context of our country’s presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.