Brussels, 17/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The movement ATD Fourth World has presented its comments on national action plans for social inclusion (NAPincl) 2003-2005 to the European Commission's DG Social Affairs and Employment, and its observations on the development of the European strategy for social inclusion. The organisation's main concern is making sure that the strategy really reaches and supports people living in a situation of permanent poverty, and who have constantly been excluded form the benefits of the economic progress and the development of the European continent.
ATD Fourth World's delegation to the EU chose to focus mainly on seven vital areas in the life and discourse of the poorest people, including those from ethnic minorities, and according to two cross-cutting perspectives: human dignity and the indivisibility of rights.
The seven areas looked at are: the right to work, the right to housing, the right to health, the right to education, the right to have access to services, the right to culture and the right to family life. The observations show that the Member States have made progress, especially in the recognition and understanding of poverty, but the movement is still waiting for greater awareness and effective policies to be brought in within various fields (see http: //http://www.atd-quartmonde.org ).
This analysis has raised a certain number of questions, explains ATD Fourth World in conclusion, such as whether the NAPs have a future.
To increase the impact of the strategy to fight poverty and exclusion in the everyday lives of people living permanently in a situation of great poverty in Europe, the movement ATD Fourth World has made the following proposals: 1) getting those directly involved with these policies involved in the assessment of the policies is essential; 2) the action needed for real change should replace the mere reporting of the situation; 3) coherence must be achieved between the various European, national, regional and local strategies, and between the various political areas; 4) partnership and co-operation between all those involved should be strengthened and developed; 5) partnerships with the poorest and most excluded populations requires sufficient investment, in order to create the conditions allowing their genuine participation on a legal basis; 6) getting all citizens involved and stimulating debate on the kind of society they want in the future to make social exclusion a thing of the past; 7) human rights and human dignity should be the mobilising forces of all efforts to develop a fairer inclusive society.