Attention!
Our second newsletter has appeared, wich can be downloaded clicking on this link. newsletter
We invite you to attend the “Integrated Local Society – What local governments should do?” conference.
2010: European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
When the growth and jobs strategy was launched in March 2000, EU leaders pledged to make "a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty" by 2010.
And yet too many people still live in destitution with no access to basic services such as health care. 79 million Europeans live below the poverty threshold. This violates EU principles of solidarity and social justice.
In response, 2010 will be the "European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion", to recognise that:
• all people have a right to live in dignity and take part in society
• the public and private sector share responsibility to combat poverty and social exclusion
• eradicating poverty for a more cohesive society benefits all
• commitment at all levels of society is needed to achieve this goal.
The EU has announced that 2010 will be the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, during which the EU will work to make a "decisive impact on the eradication of poverty". According to the European Commission, the Year has a budget of at least €26 million, and will include activities such as awareness-raising, campaigns and studies, innovative schemes to promote social inclusion, conferences and competitions to identify success stories. These activities will "be identified and implemented at national level, involving civil society, local and regional authorities."
According to the European Anti-Poverty Network, 78 million people live in poverty in the EU, of whom 19 million are in employment.
"Despite these shameful figures and in the light of the current financial crisis, not enough is being done", said EAPN President Ludo Horemans. "On the contrary, despite political declarations in many Member States and at EU level, the reality is that it has been more and more difficult to get serious political commitment and attention to the fight against poverty and social exclusion".
"... Concrete actions are needed at EU level. These include the establishment of a Social Progress Pact to direct political attention to the need to put social cohesion and the fight against poverty at the top of the EU agenda and at the centre of the post Lisbon strategy", said EAPN Director Fintan Farrell. "The EU must also ensure that all Member States make progress so that their minimum income schemes are adequate for a dignified life."
The main objectives of the Year are stated as:
• Recognition: recognise the fundamental right of persons experiencing poverty and social exclusion to live in dignity and to take an active part in society;
• Shared responsibility and participation: promote public support for social inclusion policies, emphasising collective and individual responsibility in combating poverty and social exclusion, and fostering commitment by all public and private actors;
• Cohesion: promote a more cohesive society, where no one doubts that society as a whole benefits from the eradication of poverty;
• Commitment and practical action: renew the pledge of the EU and its Member States to combat poverty and social exclusion, and involve all levels of authority in the pursuit of that aim.
Our conference will be organize probably in november and we have to present hungarian best project from townsips which are skid row, poor.
Supporters:
• European Local Observatories Network
• Budapest Collage of Communication an Business
• CILAP EAPN Italia (organizations of Italy of European Antipoverty Network)
• CILAP EAPN Basilicata
• Association of Local Governments, Hungary
• Small Town's Association, Hungary
LRMI Nonprofit Ltd. aims to organize an international workshop to fulfill the obligation of awareness raising, capacity building and of experiences and best practices. Experts from East- and West-Europe will come to show the characters and the extension of the problem in different sub-regions and to discuss the effective of solutions used.
