17 October – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty | #EndPoverty #PovertyWatch
October 17 marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Now, more than ever, the situation calls for urgent action. Amid the Covid pandemic, the most vulnerable in our societies face the greatest challenges. EAPN and our members are concerned that poverty will increase to an alarming level due to the virus. We should keep working on short- and long-term strategies that will enable people to escape poverty and make sure they don’t pay the price for the current crisis. Moreover, we should all keep fighting for a more social and inclusive Europe post-2020.
EAPN activities
This year we will again assemble our member’s Poverty Watches into one EU Poverty Watch. See our new published national poverty watches! These documents are the result of interaction with people who directly face poverty. The outcome showcases the main challenges and key priorities to end poverty in Europe. The recommendations put forward in the Poverty Watches will be used in the revised European Semester 2021.
“Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all”
We’ve also been working hard with the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Poverty who are planning an online event on 15 October. The focus will be ‘Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all’, which links to the global theme (see here). The agenda is currently being finalized.
Time: 15:00 – 17:30
To register, click here
Interpretation: English, French, Italian and Portuguese
Speakers will include people experiencing poverty from EAPN members BAPN, EAPN Portugal and ATD Fourth World, as well as Olivier De Schutter (UN Special Rapporteur for Extreme Poverty and Human Rights), MEPs Cindy Franssen and Pierfrancesco Majorino (Co-Chairs of the Intergroup on Poverty), MEPs Marisa Matias and Marie Toussaint (Vice-Chairs of the Intergroup on Poverty) and Santina Bertulessi (Deputy Head of Cabinet for Commissioner Nicholas Schmit).
EAPN Members’ activities
AGE Platform
AGE Platform published an article “Poverty affects both human relations and physical needs of older persons in the pandemic – #EndPovertyDay” on their website to put the spotlight on poverty on this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Austria
Austria has organised discussion groups with people experiencing poverty. Through these conversations, some key statements were developed:
Statement 1a: I call on the EU Commission to commit the EU member states to include social human rights in the constitution and also to implement them. Silvia, Job seeker Graz
Statement 1b: I call on the EU Commission to close the tax loopholes of the corporations and to take rigorous action against wage and social dumping! Silvia, Job seeker Graz
Statement 2: We, mothers with children, and also all other families, must be secure in the crisis. The struggle for survival harms everyone and makes us sick. Anna, Single mother of three children, Vienna
Statement 3: During the corona crisis access to authorities, doctors and necessary therapies for chronically ill and disabled people became very difficult or even impossible. Therefore it is more necessary than ever to ensure low-threshold access to the healthcare system. Wolfgang, minimum pension receipient, Linz
Statement 4: Stop violence against women, children and weak people! Growing up and living in safe conditions is a human right. We must fight for it. Astrid, single mother of four children, Salzburg
Belgium
The Walloon Anti-Poverty Network aims at organising numerous smaller activities to shine a light on Poverty on October 17. Below find only a few of the initiatives that will be organised throughout Wallonia. For the entire overview of activities, visit the RWLP programme.
Social Casino – Coleur Café Malmedy 9:00 – 12:30
In this casino you will play the classics in a social disguise. Engage yourself in a game of “the social pursuit”, “the roulette of identities”, “social cinema” or “the songs for social protection”. Registration necessary: Laetitia.herion@couleurcafeasbl.be
The association in your daily life – Bumblebee Bourdon 10:30 – 12:30
This ‘participatory animation’ event is focused on raising people’s voices. By starting from an association in their daily lives, the discussion on poverty will begin.
A wise country – Cinema Churchill Cork 4 p.m.
In his shocking documentary, David Dufresne shows a disturbing image of police violence. He raises the question of the state’s claim of a monopoly on legitimate physical violence. Tickets available on the site.
Cyprus
The Cyprus Antipoverty Network is organising a conference on the 17th of October, from 9.00-13.00 local time, at the University of Nicosia, UNESCO Amphitheatre:
“The Active participation of People Experiencing Poverty in decision making process“.
In our conference the president of our Network, Dr. Nicos Satsias will present the recommendations of the Cyprus PEP meetings and participants on the PEP group will deliver their testimonies. Afterwards we will have a discussion on: “The importance and need for active participation of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion in decision-making centers” with the following speakers
- Mr. Christos Diomidous, from the Welfare Allowance Management Service, on Benefits, activation and participation of people experiencing poverty,
- Dr. Nicos Satsias, from Cyprus Antipoverty Network the National Coordinator of PEP on the importance of a structured process/fremawork of participation of PEP and
- Ms. Alexandra Attalides, former Communication Laison in European Parliament office in Cyprus, on the European dimension of people’s participation.
Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, Covid unfortunately disrupted the original events planned for 17 October. However, our Czech member issued the EAPN CZ Declaration. This statement can be found on their website or on their Facebook account.
The Czech member organizations and other NGOs will keep providing support to people experiencing poverty and carrying out advocacy work for their benefit, especially toward the government, Parliament, regional and local governments and public administration. Because in these challenging times, it is important to keep an eye on the most vulnerable in society.
Finland
EAPN Finland would like to highlight the importance of the fairly large and varied NGO sector in the social and health sector in the country. The Finnish Organization of the Unemployed already has 73 member NGOs throughout Finland. The NGOs also help people experiencing poverty by giving the unemployed the opportunity to work as volunteer. Some of these NGOs have access to state and municipal aid and have become professionalized. Many are based on volunteer work – and are involved in distributing food aid, as well as social and physical assistance and peer support. Overall, the work they do is very important for people at risk of poverty, so they deserve a spotlight on this day of fighting poverty.
More information: http://www.eapn.fi/ngos-helping-people-experiencing-poverty-in-finland-case-organization-of-the-unemployed/
France
EAPN France published a few articles on their digital platforms about their Poverty Watch report. Find the articles here and here.
Germany
This year, the South-West of Germany organised a digital congress with the Ministry of Social Affairs and other partners on childhood – as well as family-poverty. The slogan of the event was ‘Poor children – poor society!’
Find here the link to this ‘week of action’ aka. Aktionswoche (including the reader), and the programme sheet here. Finally, a press-release about the online-event with the Ministry and other partners can be found here.
Greece
Our Greek member collected compelling testimonies from people experiencing poverty. The realities of these people will be shared through social media on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Hungary
The Hungarian association, Chance Lab, had an important activity on 17 October. For the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty they organised a public event titled “Double It! – We Want Proper Family Allowance”. With the event we focus on asking the decision-makers to raise the amount of family allowance to double, because it has been the same since 2008. The economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic makes it more urgent. At the event parents, family members, social experts and activists shared their thoughts about the issue.
The event was streamed at the Fb profile: https://www.facebook.com/eselylabor/
Iceland
For the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, EAPN Iceland collected testimonies of people experiencing poverty. The results were assembled in a small video, which shows the major concerns for people at risk of poverty in the country.
Italy
Italy will organize an online free event to discuss numbers and stories of poverty in Italy. The event will host representatives of PEP and national institutions. During the event, the Poverty Watch will be presented. The event will take place on two dates: 17 October n the early afternoon (14-15 CET) and 24 October in the morning (11-13 CET). This way, more people might get involved!
The program has been published on the website and on Facebook.
Latvia
EAPN Latvia organised a meeting on poverty in the House of the European Union, Riga. The meeting took place on 15 October 2020.
Luxembourg
EAPN Luxembourg will share a compelling social media campaign on the fight against poverty, starting the 17th of October until 31 October. Keep an eye on their social media accounts to see the campaign!
Poland
Poland will be organising several activities throughout the week. To highlight the fight against poverty, our Polish member will focus on SoMe coverage, hold an award ceremony, and publish their top-notch poverty watch.
Programme:
- 16.10.2020:
1. Poverty Watch 2020 presentation by prof. Szarfenberg during the award ceremony for prize winners in the journalistic contest “Faces of Poverty”. This will be covered with online transmission. The gala is taking place October 16 at 5 p.m.
2. Publication of an article about the Poverty Watch 2020
- 19.10.2020
Press release for the Polish Poverty Watch 2020. This release is focused on a select group of journalists.
Portugal
As usually EAPN Portugal is organising a great number of activities throughout the country (including The Autonomous Region of Madeira) to celebrate the 17th of October, starting on the 11 to till the 26th of october.
1. XII National Forum to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion | Leiria, 16- 17 October; Award Ceremony of the Journalism Award – Leiria, 16 October; Launching of the National Campaign on the Impact of Covid-19 – 17th October
A meeting with the participation of citizens, in particular citizens in poverty and social exclusion, that will have as the central theme “The Adequate Minimum Income and the importance of a National Strategy to Combat Poverty”. During the meeting EAPN Portugal will present the National Campaign on the impact of Covid 19 among citizens. Find out more.
2. Conference “Social Society and the Combat Against Poverty”, Lisbon, 26 October
This Conference aims to create a new dynamic to call all citizens, without exception, in all spheres of society so that, together, they can carry forward the values of a new social order where poverty and social exclusion it has no place and where social justice and equality are the engine of true human development, capable of leaving a more just and sustainable world for generations to come. Find out more.
Go to the programme of all the activities planned in Portugal (regional and national) in the run up to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Romania
EAPN Romania organises an event in cooperation with Cartel Alfa Trade Union National Confederation, for which they will use messages and participation of People Experiencing Poverty, as well as the insights from the poverty watch. In addition, a social media campaign will be shared with video messages of PEP, in-work poverty, and minimum wage and income. To top it off, they will send letters to decision-makers prior to the event.
Take a look at the videos made by EAPN Romania: video 1, video 2, video 3.
Slovakia
Slovakia created a campaign existing out of two parts:
- We’re all in the same boat: in this part the focus is on cooperation. Poverty cannot be solved as long as societies are polarized.
- What we don’t know about ourselves: in the second part, our Slovakian member wants to highlight the fact that there is a lot we don’t know about ourselves. The key message: stay humble and have respect, also for experts on poverty.
The Slovak Anti-Poverty Network also organised activities in Liptov, including a press conference, a panel discussion and visiting their member organisation OASIS. They also sent the Slovak poverty watch to the Prime Minister Matovič, the President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputova and to the the Minister of Social Affairs and vice-Minister Gaborčakova (EMIN Ambassador).
Watch their video to see the result of their campaign:
Slovenia
Slovenia had to cancel a bigger event due to Covid, however, it did not stop them from fighting to end poverty. They have made a video to present EAPN Slovenia and the Poverty Watch, and also prepared a press release to present EAPN Slovenia in the media. Their member, The Association of Friends of Youth Ljubljana Moste-Polje also shared a press release where EAPN and the Poverty Watch were mentioned.
Spain
In the run-up to International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Spain will present its State of Poverty report 2020. This report highlights the key priorities in the fight against Poverty in Spain. Further, a commemorative action will be organised at the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
Programme:
- 14th October: 10H: Press Conference: Presentation of the ‘State of Poverty’ Report 2020: www.eapn.es/estadodepobreza
- 15th October: Commemorative Action at the Ministry of Health and Social Services
- 16th October: 9H: Presentation of the 17th October ONCE Lottery ticket
Find the detailed programme on the Spanish website.
Sweden
For the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Sweden organised a discussion group with people experiencing poverty. The goal was to develop proposal for political change, presented by people with their own realities of poverty and social exclusion. Some of the topics included were: digitalisation, human trafficking, healthcare, employment in times of the pandemic, xenophobia and residential permits.
The Netherlands
Our Dutch member will organise a focus group at Stg “Onze DROOM” in Brummen. In this focus group, nine people experiencing poverty will participate. At this meeting they will discuss the impact of Covid and the increase in loneliness and poverty, together with the new councilman of Brummen. At the end of the discussion, everyone will cross the fictitious poverty line. The main goal of the poverty line action is to raise awareness for the increasing visibility and isolation people in poverty face due to Covid. “Onze DROOM” and EAPN Netherlands created a nice photo collage of the campaign.
UK
The Poverty Alliance in the UK has organised various events in the context of their Challenge Poverty Week. Challenge Poverty Week is the ideal opportunity to raise your voice against poverty and unite with others in calling for a more social Scotland. It is overall a very constructive initiative in the run up to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Find the complete programme and more information on the Challenge Poverty Week here.
