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 EU23 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
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Statement on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and economic, social and cultural rights
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 19 on the right to social security
- Report of the Independent Expert on extreme poverty and human rights on cash transfers
- Report of the Independent Expert on extreme poverty and human rights on universal basic income
- ENNHRI Statement “The EU must put economic and social rights at the heart of its economic response to COVID-19”
- A UN Framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19
- Spotlight brief: Sickness benefits during sick leave and quarantine: Country responses and policy considerations in the context of COVID-19
- Spotlight brief: Social protection responses to the COVID-19 crisis: Country responses and policy considerations
- Social protection responses to the COVID-19 crisis around the world
- ILO Sectoral brief: COVID and the health sector
- Spotlight brief: Towards universal health coverage. Social health protection principles
- Disability inclusive social protection response to COVID-19 crisis
- Building social protection systems: International standards and human rights instruments, International Labour Office – Geneva: ILO, 2nd edition, 2019
- ILO, Universal social protection for human dignity, social justice and sustainable development: General Survey concerning the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), ILC.108/III/B, 2019.
- ILO, Social security and the rule of law: General Survey concerning social security instruments in light of the 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, ILC.100/III/1B (2011)
- The Right to Social Security in the Constitutions of the World: Broadening the moral and legal space for social justice, Volume 1: Europe
- Data dashboard: Social Protection Monitor: Social protection responses to the COVID-19 crisis around the world - Updated weekly
- Rapid Social Protection Calculator for COVID-19