The year of 2010 in Europe is marked as a European year for decreasing poverty and social exclusion. The network of Caritas pursuing action ZERO POVERTY ACT NOW, in order to inform public about the poverty phenomena and social exclusion and to involve all people in decreasing the poverty. Open web site www.zeropoverty.org on which you can find informations about activities that Caritas is pursuing around Europe, as well as petition with which wants to induce a changes on the area of decreasing poor children in Europe, to insure I minimum conditions of protection for all people, to increase social and health services as well as dignity in employment. The text of petition can be found and signed here
Caritas of Bishop's conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina is involved in action with opening the web site www.zeropoverty.ba, as well as public presentations of this action through materials for conferences and meetings or events.
We, people in Europe
Consider Poverty to be everybody's concern. European, national, regional and local decision-makers, together with citizens, are responsible for recognizing, understanding poverty and acting against it. In this common effort solidarity must be a long-lasting commitment and - together with justice and the common good - a fundamental principle.
We commit to engage our time, skills and energy in the political, civic and personal sphere to fighting poverty and building an inclusive society.
Thus, in this European Year against Poverty and Social Exclusion, we urge our decision makers and politicians to commit to the following goals:
1) Eradicate child poverty in Europe starting by halving, by 2015, the number of children living in families below the poverty line. One measure we strongly recommend is to guarantee child allowances to every child, regardless of the status of their parents.
2) Ensure minimum level of social protection for everyone so that, by 2015, social protection systems will guarantee a decent living standard to all.
Measures we strongly recommend are to guarantee decent pensions, allowances for ill people and an adequate basic income for people who do not have sufficient resources for dignified living conditions.
3) Increase the provision of social and healthcare services by ensuring equal access (availability and affordability) for all to quality social and healthcare services by 2015.
Measures we strongly recommend are: to increase by 50% the availability of social housing in Europe; and to recognize and support Home Care as an effective social service.
4) Ensure decent jobs for all and, by 2015, reduce unemployment below 5%.
Recommended measures are: to guarantee equal access to vocational training, life-long learning and other pathways to employment; and to offer social employment for those who need special protection.
In all these fields, special attention will be given to excluded groups of people such as migrants, ethnic minorities, people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and disabled persons.
We give our full support to all who act in pursuit of these goals.
For further information, please contact the Caritas Europe office at 0032 2 280 02 80, or at info@caritas-europa.org
* Signatures will be presented by Caritas to the relevant institutions (Website to filter signature per country allowing for use at national level)