PUBLIC STATEMENT
17th October 2018 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEMENT BY EURODIACONIA SECRETARY GENERAL ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY
On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Eurodiaconia calls on the European Institutions and Member States to increase their efforts in ending poverty and ensuring that also within the EU “no one is left behind” in view of building a more cohesive society.
Eurodiaconia welcomes this year’s theme of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, “Coming together with those furthest behind to build an inclusive world of universal human rights and dignity”, as it reflects well what our members across Europe are working for. The theme shows the importance of adopting a human rights perspective when addressing poverty, in order to maintain the human dignity of each person experiencing poverty or social exclusion and working together towards their empowerment.
One year after the joint proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights by all three EU Institutions it is now time to implement the 20 principles, by making sure to reach out to the most vulnerable members of our societies and combat social exclusion. While all 20 principles can positively contribute to fighting poverty, particular attention should be given to principle 11 on protecting children from poverty, principle 14 on adequate minimum income to ensure everyone can live in dignity and principle 19 on housing and assistance to the homeless.
The new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in particular, the European Social Fund+ (ESF+), will be key in implementing measures to support people at risk of poverty and social exclusion throughout the next decade. In particular, measures reaching out to the most deprived through food and material aid and social inclusion measures, are essential to alleviate the worst forms of poverty still existing in Europe and safeguarding the human dignity of those persons, while empowering them to eventually lift themselves out of poverty.
Heather Roy, Eurodiaconia Secretary General stresses that “The European Institutions and Member States now need to take concrete measures to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights with a view of reducing poverty in the European Union. The new ESF+ is an important opportunity to support concrete actions that will help make the European Pillar of Social Rights become a reality”.
Eurodiaconia is a dynamic, Europe-wide community of social and health care organisations founded in the Christian faith and working in the tradition of Diaconia. It represents more than 40 members working in over 32 countries, including churches, not-for-profit welfare organisations and NGOs. Together, our members provide services to hundreds of thousands of persons in need across Europe.