1. Monitoring social and economic rights
CoE/FRA/EQUINET/ENNHRI platform
on social and economic rights
Strasbourg, 28 March 2017

2. FRA developing indicators
FRA mandate: “develop methods and standards to improve the comparability, objectivity and reliability of data at European level, in cooperation with the European Commission and Member States”
FRA piloted use of human rights based (S-P-O) indicators in three areas of work:
Roma inclusion (right to non-discrimination, rights of the child and a range of social rights)
Rights of persons with disabilities (right to political participation, right to independent living)
Rights of the child (participation in judicial proceedings)

3. Why a rights-based approach?
What gets measured gets done
Rights entail duty-bearers’ enforceable obligations
SE rights: progressive implementation vs. absolute
How to monitor progress and impact of policies?

4. S-P-O framework zoomed in
Structure
Acceptance and commitments to human rights standards: laws and policy
Process
Efforts to transform commitments to desired results: policy measures
Outcome
Results of efforts to fulfil human rights holders’ experiences
How does FRA looks into the reasons for the divide between the law on the books and the situation on the ground? What tools and models do we use?
For monitoring progress in the implementation of fundamental rights standards and evaluating results on the ground FRA uses the conceptual and methodological framework as developed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The so called S-P-O (Structure-Process-Outcomes) indicator model is an operational tool that assesses in reference to specific fundamental rights standards:
1) Structure: The laws on the books: The legal and policy framework in place – by developing and using so-called structural indicators. Structural indicators reflect the ratification and adoption of legal instruments and the existence as well as the creation of basic institutional mechanisms deemed necessary for the promotion and protection of human rights.
2) Process: The transformation of commitments into desired results, that is…. translating law into practice – the concrete measures to implement duty bearers’ efforts – by developing and using process indicators.
Process indicators are particularly important as they inform policy makers about possible gaps or deficits at the implementation level. Some common process indicators are: Indicators based on budget allocations; Coverage of targeted population groups under public programmes; Human rights complaints received and the proportion redressed;
3) Outcomes: The results of these efforts – that is the achievements - as observed for different target groups via outcome indicators based on rights holders’ experiences. Outcome indicators capture individual and collective attainments that reflect the state of enjoyment of human rights in a given context.

5. ^
FRA’s experience with SPO indicators on SE rights: measuring progress in Roma inclusion
socio-economic deprivation and discrimination – a matter of fundamental rights
Picture: FRA, LERI project locality (Slovakia)

6. FRA mandate on Roma inclusion
Collect evidence on the realization of fundamental rights
Support COM and MS in their efforts to monitor and evaluate progress on Roma integration
Council Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in MS (2013)
Make use of any relevant core indicators or methods of empirical social research or data collection for monitoring and evaluating progress on a regular basis, particularly at the local level, enabling efficient reporting on the situation of Roma in the MS with the optional support of the FRA.

7. An indicator framework for Roma inclusion
FRA-COM Working Party on Roma Integration Indicators (2012):
Assisting MS in their efforts to develop indicators for monitoring progress in the implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies
18 Member States (National Roma Contact Points)
In consultation with national stakeholders
Indicators elaborated and tested
Focus on P indicators aligned to the Council Recommendation on Roma integration
First reporting based on indicators: 2016
(ministries, statistical agencies, structural funds managing authorities, regional and local authorities, civil society)

8. Data collection: P indicators
Member States provide general information per thematic area
Detailed reporting on specific measures
What, when, who, for whom, how much, from which sources?
Mapping of actions re. those measures
Country-specific comments to contextualize the information
Member States provide general information per thematic area
On the situation in regards Roma inclusion since the adoption of the EU Framework in 2011 (the five priorities)
On what they do in regards implementing the Council recommendations
Detailed reporting on specific measures
What (title and content of the measure)
When (period of implementation)
Who (implementing entity)
For whom (beneficiaries)
Option to estimate Roma beneficiaries using variety of data sources
How much and from which sources
Then they map what they do in the suggested set of measures
Throughout the template – vast opportunities for country-specific comments to contextualize the information

9. Challenges of the SPO indicators
Bringing together different perspectives and methods
EU MIDIS II, National Statistical Institutes – aggregate national level outcomes
SocioRoMap. UNICEF – local level outcomes and processes
Qualitative research – local level processes
And many policy actors
National Roma Contact Points
Local administrations
The people
Socio-graphic mapping of the Roma Communities in Romania for a community-level monitoring of changes with regard to Roma integration (SocioRoMap)
A project financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism in the framework of "Poverty Alleviation in Romania" (RO25)

10. ^
EU MIDIS II covering all Member States Representative sample of Roma in 9 MS When possible, comparable to general population Report launched on 28 November 2016

11. ^
Right to work in fair and just working conditions Fewer than one out of three Roma are reported to be in paid employment
Picture: Roma Realities – Decade , SDC and the World Bank

12. ^
The right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being
80 % of Roma live below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold
Picture: own archive

13. ^
The right to education Half of the Roma between 6 and 24 years of age do not attend school
Picture: Roma Realities – Decade , SDC and the World Bank

14. ^
The right to housing
Every third Roma lives in housing without tap water
One in 10 live in housing without electricity
Picture: Roma Realities – Decade , SDC and the World Bank

15. ^
Rights awareness 82 % of Roma are not aware of the existence of equality bodies, laws and campaigns addressing discrimination
Picture: FRA, LERI project locality (Finland)

16. The pictures used are from:
FRA ‘Local Engagement in Roma Inclusion’ project localities
SDC and the World Bank. (2015). Decade