Ministers and other senior officials responsible for social rights and social policy, leaders of the Council of Europe, representatives of the European Union institutions, the United Nations and the International Labour Organisation, representatives of civil society, social partners, academia, national human rights institutions, equality bodies and their European networks will gather together in Chisinau for the Conference on social rights - the European Social Charter on 19 March.
At issue will be the importance of social rights as enshrined in the European Social Charter, the Council of Europe's New Democratic Pact for Europe, and ways to further enhance the charter's relevance and impact.
The conference will take place at the Palace of the Republic in Chisinau, and is jointly hosted by the Council of Europe and the Republic of Moldova's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset will deliver the opening remarks. Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu will deliver the closing remarks.
Important social rights topics for discussion
Participants will examine the pivotal role that social rights play in safeguarding security and democratic stability. They will also explore the future of work in the context of accelerating artificial intelligence and new technologies, as well as the complex challenges arising from multiple ongoing conflicts, demographic shifts and climate change.
The event will provide an opportunity for European countries to reaffirm their commitment to social justice and to undertake further commitments under the European Social Charter. It will also serve as a platform for political dialogue between European leaders on the future of social rights in Europe.
At the close, participants will adopt the Chisinau Declaration, forward-looking political declaration reaffirming their commitment to social rights and to the European Social Charter, while proposing further action.
Learn more about what the Conference on social rights involves
Watch the Conference live (English, French, Romanian)
