UN Human Rights Europe and ILO Webinar

Building Back Better: Strengthening Social Protection in the EU

On 23 June, the UN Human Rights Regional Office for Europe and the International Labour Organization jointly organized a webinar.



The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge to societies worldwide and its consequent economic and social impact has triggered an unparalleled crisis, with a disproportionate impact on the most marginalized. Recovery efforts can help to steer the world onto a safer, healthier, more sustainable and inclusive path, including through stronger social protection measures based on human rights.

Listen to the joint webinar of the UN Human Rights Regional Office for Europe and the International Labour Organization on “Building back better: strengthening social protection in the EU.” With international human rights and labour standards as a starting point, international experts explore promising practices and challenges for social protection systems in the EU, and how to ensure the meaningful participation of rights-holders in the development and implementation of EU recovery plans in the wake of COVID-19.

Guest speakers include experts from the United Nations, the European Commission, EU social partners, national human rights institutions and civil society. 

Programme

Building Back Better: Strengthening Social Protection in the EU
23 June 2020, 10:00 – 11:30

10:00 – 10:05 Welcome by Birgit Van Hout, UN Human Rights Regional Representative for Europe

PANEL I: BUILDING BACK BETTER: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE EU AND ITS MEMBER STATES AS DUTY-BEARERS?

UN experts and EU officials will review gaps in social protection and the role of the EU and its member States in building back better. How can a human rights approach to social protection ensure that no one is left behind, against the background of the EU’s COVID-19 recovery proposals, the recent Council Recommendation on access to Social Protection and the ongoing consultation on the Action Plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights?

10:05 - 10:35 Moderator: Dima Yared, UN Human Rights Regional Office for Europe

An exchange of views on social protection among:
Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
Stefania Tripodi, UN Human Rights Office
Kroum Markov/Maya Stern-Plaza, Social Protection Department, International Labour Organization
Ana Carla Pereira, Advisor, Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit

10:35 – 10:50 Q&A

PANEL II: BUILDING BACK BETTER: HOW CAN RIGHTS-HOLDERS PARTICIPATE?

How can we ensure meaningful participation of rights-holders in strengthening social protection post COVID-19? Representatives from national human rights institutions, social partners and civil society will share their views of how the right to participate can be realized in the context of social protection and present promising practices in policymaking in the EU region.

10:50 – 11:15 Moderator: Lieve Verboven, Director, International Labour Organization Office for the EU and the Benelux countries

An exchange of views on social protection among:
Leo Williams, Director, European Anti-Poverty Network
Debbie Kohner, Secretary-General, European Network of National Human Rights Institutions
Liina Carr, Confederal Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation
Rebekah Smith, Deputy Director for Social Affairs, Business Europe

11.15 – 11.30 Q&A, followed by Closing Remarks by Shahra Razavi, Director, Social Protection Department, International Labour Organization

Background documents and links

ILO Publications on COVID-19 Other relevant publications
COVID-19 tools
Other relevant tools