Joint Colloquium on the Right to Work for Refugees in Europe

The Council of Europe hold a Joint Colloquium on the Right to Work for Refugees in Europe (the 27th September 2012) in Strasbourg. The programme is available, as well as the opening remarks speech by Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe. We reproduce the following excerpts of the opening speech: 

The topic of today's Colloquium, the right to work for refugees, is of paramount importance. The UNHCR estimates that there are about one and a half million recognised refugees in Council of Europe member states. There are no accurate estimates as to how many refugees are in formal employment in member states, but as we will hear today, the reality is that many refugees face many barriers in exercising this right which is guaranteed by the European Social Charter.

This Treaty also requires strong protection from discrimination in employment, inter alia, on grounds of race or ethnic origin. It also guarantees many other rights which are crucial in ensuring the right to work: for example, the right to education and training, and the right to vocational guidance.

The European Social Charter requires that states parties should grant refugees "treatment as favourable as possible, and, in any case, not less favourable" than that required by the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

The right to work for refugees is important for several reasons, firstly and most importantly it is a question of human dignity: the right not to live in poverty, to participate and to belong. But it is also essential for the host state and society as a whole: refugees who can work are more likely to find their place in the host society. The right to work facilitates social cohesion and promotes prosperous and inclusive communities.

We include the list of the speakers of the colloquium:

• Ms Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy  Secretary General of the Council of Europe 
• Ms Erika Feller, Assistant High Commissioner (Protection)
• Mr Régis Brillat, Executive Secretary of the European Committee of Social Rights
• Mr Olivier Beer, UNHCR Representative to the European Institutions in Strasbourg
• Mr Thomas Lukayi, refugee
• Professor Jean-François Akandji-Kombe, Professor of Law at the Sorbonne University, Paris (roundtable facilitator)
• Ms Janice Marshall, Deputy Director, Division of International Protection, UNHCR
• Mr Philippe Texier, former Chairperson of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, UN
• Prof. Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights
• Ms Angelika Nussberger, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights
• Ms Jean Lambert, Member of the European Parliament
• Mr Christopher Chope, Member of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly
• Prof. Penelope Mathew, Freilich Found., ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences (moderator)
• Mr Robert Katianda and Mr Keli Kpedzroku, refugees
• Ms Madeline Garlick, Head of the Policy and Legal Support Unit, Bureau for Europe, UNHCR
• Ms Lilian.Ivars, Member of the Närpes Municipal Council
• Mr Rick Jones, Director of Operations, Refugee Action
• Amb. Margarita Gega, Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe