EAPN Members: National Networks | Covid-19

• At the 12^th Austrian Poverty Conference, held in Salzburg from 9 to 11 March 2020, published a statement (you can read it in DE here) starting with a call to relevant government bodies to provide the necessary special protection and security for poor and vulnerable people and groups on the backdrop of the Corona virus and to devise decisive measures to support them and reduce related risks.

• EAPN Belgium wrote to the Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès recommending non-exhaustive proposals for measures for the most precarious groups of the population (you can read it in FR and NL here)

EAPN Ireland:

• sent regular Bulletins to members and other organisations with the latest relevant information.
• issued number of Press Statements related to the crisis. The first was in relation to access to adequate welfare supports and the second a Press Statement on the political response to the crisis in the contest of the development of the programme for a new Government, which is still ongoing. Letters were also sent to the leaders of all political parties.
• posted and promoted Blogs from Paul Ginnell and Aiden Lloyd on the recovery from the crisis.
• is a member of a Covid-19 NGO Group which has published a Joint Submission on addressing the needs of marginalised groups during the crisis entitles.
• published a policy briefing entitled “Rethinking a more Inclusive and Equal Ireland in 2020 and Beyond” reflecting the impact the current pandemic has had on Irish society and the people and communities that are most at risk.

• wrote two letters to their Government beginning of March and April (in LT)
• launched a public campaign with their partners that includes a number of press releases, interviews and comments from various experts who highlight different problems and supported their suggestions from the letter to the Government and a petition
• developed a “blitz” analysis about access to information in the websites of all municipalities, together  with the Lithuanian Disability Forum.

• EAPN Malta wrote to Hon. Minister Michael Falzon asking  him for a online meeting to discuss the issues that risen with the COVID-19.

• EAPN Portugal also issued a statement on Corona virus (you can read it in PT here).

• EAPN Spain set up:
  • a small survey directed to their local members with the aim of getting direct and fresh information from the fieldcreated
  • a microsite (in Spanish) on the social impact of the Coronavirus crisis that includes:
    • a detailed analysis of the various social and economic consequences of the Corona virus, very well also highlighting the gender dimension. The statement includes recommendations to the Spanish government and the Autonomous Regions in Spain. It has been shared by social media and was picked up by El Diario and Televisión Española.
    • a second analysis on the new, specific situations of vulnerability that came to their knowledge, and
    • a third document with the demands to the Spanish Government, after the announcement of their contingency plan.
    • a fourth document on Gender Violence in the coronavirus crisis