The 15th meeting of the Platform on Economic and Social Rights, jointly organised by the Council of Europe (CoE), the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and the European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet), was held in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 2 and 3 October 2025.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Ombudswoman Tatjana Vlašić.

This year’s meeting focused on the realisation of various social and economic rights in rural communities, particularly the challenges faced by citizens living outside urban areas in accessing and exercising their rights to health care, education, work, housing, social protection, and access to public services, among others.

Due to the centralisation of many public services in larger urban centres, the lack of available employment opportunities and income inequalities in rural areas, along with demographic decline, poor transport connectivity and generally underdeveloped infrastructure, many residents of these regions are unable to fully exercise their guaranteed rights. They may also be exposed to various forms of discrimination, for instance on the grounds of age, gender, socio-economic status or ethnic origin.

In a panel dedicated to the specific challenges faced by residents of rural areas across Europe in exercising their social and economic rights, Deputy Ombudswoman Vlašić addressed the limited availability and difficult access to health and other public services for people living in rural and isolated regions, from the perspective of the Ombudswoman’s institution.

Other participants in the discussion included Charlotte Altenhoener-Dion from the Office of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Ana Winship from the Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), and Theona Morrison from Scottish Rural Action, while the panel was moderated by Debbie Kohner from ENNHRI.