European Social Charter
Official Text
The European Social Charter details the rights and freedoms that concern individuals’ daily lives. The Charter also establishes a supervisory mechanism guaranteeing the respect for these rights and freedoms by states parties. The original charter was signed on 18 October 1961 in Turin and has since been replaced by the 1996 revised European Social Charter, which came into force in 1999 and has gradually replaced the initial 1961 treaty.
The European Committee of Social Rights is the body responsible for monitoring compliance with the Charter by the state parties. The Committee is composed of 15 independent members elected by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers for a period of six years.
The Charter covers various issues including the following:
- Housing, access to adequate and affordable housing and equal access for non-nationals to social housing and housing benefit;
- Health, accessible, effective health care facilities for the entire population and protection of maternity;
- Education, free primary and secondary education and integration of children with disabilities into mainstream schooling;
- Employment, prohibition of the employment of children under the age of 15 and fair working conditions as regards to pay and working hours;
- Legal and Social Protection, legal status of the child and prohibition of any form of exploitation (sexual or other);
- Movement of Persons, the right to family reunion and the right of nationals to leave the country; and
- Non–Discrimination.
Additional Protocols to the European Social Charter
Revised Social Charter
Official Text: english
The European Social Charter has developed and has taken account of the vast changes that have occurred throughout Europe since 1961. It has evolved and included new rights such as the right to protection in cases of termination of employment, and rights of workers with family responsibilities to equal opportunities and equal treatment. The enforcement of the new Charter has been developed by the amending protocol of 1991 and by the additional protocol of 1995 providing a system of collective complaints.
Complaints of violations of the Charter may be lodged with the European Committee of Social Rights by the following groups:
- European Trade Union Confederation, BusinessEurope (formerly UNICE) and International Organisation of Employers;
- Non-governmental organisations enjoying participatory status with the Council of Europe;
- Employers’ organisations and trade unions in the country concerned; and
- National non-governmental organisations.
Further Information
- European Social Charter
Council of Europe information page on the European Social Charter and the Committee on Social Rights
Update: 19.08.2011
