The role of the ombudsman in the defence of social rights in times of economic crisis

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Implementing the Revised European Social Charter in the Russian Federation: requirements of law and practice
1. The European Social Charter today
2. The ESC Ratification Process of the Russian Federation
3. Translating commitments into compliance: the role of NHRSs
4. Major social rights issues in the Russian Federation

Chapter 2 - Resolving cases of non-respect of social rights: judicial and non-judicial remedies available in the Russian Federation
1. How individual cases on social and economic Rights are addressed by non-judicial mechanisms
2. Cases presented in front of the European Court of Human Rights concerning economic and social rights in Russia

Chapter 3 - Problems and perspectives of the development of the institution of ombudsman in the Russian Federation

Conclusions

Appendixes

Workshop programme

List of participants

Introduction

Within the "Peer-to-Peer Project", a joint European Union – Council of Europe programme, a two-day round table with the regional ombudsmen of the Russian Federation took place on 3-4 September 2009 in Puskin - St. Petersburg. A total of 45 Regional Ombudsmen of the Russian Federation and/or staff of their Offices attended this round table. The event dealt with the defence of social rights by the ombudsmen of the Russian Federation
and issues pertaining to the development of the institution of ombudsman in the country. It was organised by the NHRS Unit of Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe (COE), in co-operation with the Strategy Centre of St. Petersburg. It was opened by a key note speech of the Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg. This gathering of Regional Russian Ombudsmen with Senior Representatives of the Council of Europe Secretariat, the Register of the European Court of Human Rights and the Commissioner for Human Rights, allowed for plenary discussions on significant topics concerning the protection of social rights in the current situation in Russia and on specific concerns of the Russian Ombudsmen.

As a follow-up to this event, it was decided to produce this workshop debriefing paper, which is sketched out around the three sessions of the workshop. The publication aims at summarizing the findings of the workshop and at providing practical information on the defence of social rights by the ombudsmen, as well as references to documents concerning the topic.