Draft Frame Document for Armenia Social Housing Strategy: Based on European Social Charter, Case Law of the European Committee on Social Rights and Review of Good Practice Models

This Report was commissioned by the Council of Europe in the framework of the Project “Enhancing Social Human Rights in Armenia”, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Directorate General of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Cooperation Unit, Department of Social Rights. It contributes to a Draft Frame Document addressing six areas related to housing rights and housing systems as considered by the ECSR, and other relevant international organisations. It is intended to assist those in Armenia who are developing a social housing strategy within an overall housing strategy.

Armenia ratified the revised European Social Charter on 21/01/2004 and has accepted 67 of the 98 paragraphs. There is automatic incorporation into domestic law.1
The right to housing is addressed mainly in Articles 16, 19(4), 30 and Article 31 of the European Social Charter and Revised Charter. While Armenia has not accepted Article 16, 30 or 31 of the Charter, this Frame Document anticipates that these Articles may be accepted in the course of the housing strategy, and therefore reference is made to these Articles.

The Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 sets out as one of the expected outcomes – ensuring respect for social rights in Armenia in line with the revised European Social Charter. Among the Indicators in the Action Plan are the extent to which relevant legislation is in place in line with European standards on social rights and the quality of data provided within the framework of the European Committee on Social Rights (ECSR) monitoring process.

Armenia has also accepted UN human rights obligations including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Convention and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – all of which include relevant aspects of housing rights.

The Report sets out the case law of the ECSR in key areas of the planned social housing strategy. These include the right and accessibility of housing, global and
minimum housing standards, identifying/revising mostly used indicators for minimum social housing standards, best practices, including standard service practices and SOPs in sphere of social housing, planning, commissioning, allocation, and social housing management and maintenance, eligibility and affordability and other aspects necessary for having the social housing strategy compliant with international requirements in the sphere. The Report also draws on wider contemporary housing research on proposing models of how the social housing strategy may form a part of the housing strategy of the country. It gives consideration to the refugee component in the document and other issues of vulnerable communities, i.e., women, people with disabilities and older persons.

The Report also explores the concept and objectives of social non-profit housing, again drawing on wider housing policy research. Best practices on the structures and functions of social housing management organization, governance models and international best practice models are also outlined. The Report also considers employment opportunities, education, health, and social infrastructure in the context of social housing initiatives