Thematic Groups reports

“CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEBATE ON SOCIAL EXCLUSION: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH”

INTRODUCTION

The Human Dignity and Social Exclusion Project was a pan-European initiative of the Council of Europe. The objectives of the HDSE Project have been to investigate on the extent and causes of poverty and social exclusion in Europe and, by stimulating greater awareness, to promote the adoption of concrete proposals for common principles, policies and action.

An important element of this Project has been to involve people whose daily experience of social exclusion is both an indictment of our societies and a rich source of knowledge and real solutions.

The Project, therefore, set about at an early stage to establish a working relationship with these people and their organisations and representatives: people without a home, children living in the street, victims of sexual exploitation, women and men without hope of work, travellers and ethnic minorities in hostile communities.

With their help and active participation, working groups were set up to focus on four major themes and examine the experience of the most vulnerable, the role of grass roots and other representative organisations and the opportunities for sharing good practice. Adopting a multidimensional perspective based on the fields of health, housing, employment, education and social protection, the working groups examined the following themes:

- legal rights and vulnerable groups

- family and personal networks of least advantaged groups

- the role of civil society in combating poverty and social exclusion

- intervention at the local level : public authorities and local communities.

A series of hearings were organised by the working groups to hear the testimony of people who experience poverty and social exlusion on a daily basis and to discuss with them possible ways forward. These hearings took place in October 1997. Four rapporteurs were chosen to summarise the testimony and the exchanges around these themes which took place during the hearings. The reports are more or less presented as submitted by the four rapporteurs under whose responsibility they have been prepared. The opinions expressed in their reports do not necessarily reflect the policy of individual governments or of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Individual expression, participation in social debate and representation in decision-making are all essential requirements of democratic society. It is hoped that the active involvement of the vulnerable and disadvantaged in the proceedings of the four thematic groups will stand as an important example of how these principles can be given effect and the goal of social inclusion achieved.

Thematic Group 1: Legal rights and vulnerable groups

Thematic Group 2: Family and personal networks of the least advantaged groups

Thematic Group 3: The role of civil society in combating poverty and social exclusion

Thematic Group 4: Intervention at the local level: public authorities and local communities