European Social Charter Revised

This thoroughly revised edition of a standard work on the European Social Charter of 1961 describes and analyses the amended Charter of 1996 and the Optional Protocol of 1995, with detailed attention to the jurisprudence of the independent Committee of Experts under those revised instruments. It also takes into account the substantial changes in the operation of the supervisory mechanism which have made the mechanism much more effective. The author's commentary proceeds in the broader context of international social and economic rights as expressed in the European Convention on Human Rights, European Union social law and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The 50th anniversary of the European Social Charter presents the opportunity for a comprehensive and informative review of one of the Council of Europe's fundamental treaties. What are its origins ? Which states does it cover ? What are its strengths ? What are the new challenges that the Charter needs to address ? This dynamic and accessible publication allows the reader to find out more about an instrument that is of vital importance for the protection of human rights in Europe and elsewhere.

This detailed Commentary explores the boundaries of social rights at a European level through analysis of the Revised European Social Charter (RESC), the most comprehensive regional document on social rights. The Commentary considers the treaty as the counterpart of the European Convention on Human Rights, examining how it sets out fundamental rights in the social field. It focuses primarily on the rich jurisprudence developed by the Charter’s monitoring body, the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR).

The European Committee of Social Rights was established under article 25 of the European Social Charter, to examine conformity in the law and practice of Council of Europe member states with the revised Charter. This publication contains the Committees 2004 conclusions on the implementation of the Charters provisions relating to the right to work (art. 1), collective bargaining and union rights (arts. 5 & 6), prohibition of child labour under 15 years and employment rights for young people (art. 7), social security and social assistance (arts. 12 & 13), rights of the family (art. 16), migrants rights (art. 19), and equal opportunities for men and women (art. 20). This volume covers the following countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, France and Ireland.