The 2013 theme of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17th October, highlights the discrimination that people face on a daily basis because of poverty, their marginalization in the political, economic and social spheres of their societies, and their lack of voice and representation in the conceptualisation, implementation and evaluation of policies and programmes that affect them directly and indirectly. The profound and paralyzing effects of this discrimination not only have the power to keep people in poverty, which diminishes the potential of each person, but also to rob men, women, and children of their self-esteem and dignity.
In Europe 120 million people are at risk of poverty or social exclusion; EU leaders have pledged to bring at least 20 million people out of poverty and social exclusion by 2020. The fight against poverty and social exclusion is at the heart of the “Europe 2020” strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Across the EU, 19% of children are at risk of poverty compared to an average of 16% for the total population. Some 15% of children leave school without achieving a secondary education. Youth unemployment is about twice the average unemployment rate. There are pockets of communities where joblessness is the norm – 10% of Europeans live in jobless households – and may span several generations.
Poverty is not a condition that concerns only a lack of money and resources. Poverty is multidimensional: impoverished people are deprived of services, resources and opportunities, as well as income. The worst poverty is found when there is a lack of education, understanding, hope – liberty, fraternity, equality.
As Mahatma Gandhi said “Poverty is the worst form of violence”, and the Day presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty and a chance for them to make their concerns heard, to create greater awareness and build solidarity for a better world.
How does CESIE contribute?
Past and current projects targeting people at risk of poverty and social exclusion:
International level:
- MULTI2 – Training for Inclusion
- ISPAW – Implementing Social Pathways to Ameliorate the situation of Wandering homeless persons
- MoI – Mo(ve)ments of Inclusion
- The Inclusion Puzzle
Local level:
