Access to social and medico-social services for ALL: a springboard out of poverty

Indietro Access to social and medico-social services for ALL: a springboard out of poverty

Living in a situation of poverty and social exclusion violates the dignity of human beings. Living at risk of falling into poverty and exclusion is damaging for the person, not only as regards dignity, but it also entails suffering, loss in cognitive function and social abilities. Risk of poverty and actual poverty and exclusion also compromise the exercise of a range of other rights, both social and economic (employment, health, education, housing, etc.) and civil and political (...) and ultimately involves total disenfranchisement.

Excerpt from the questionnaire sent earlier this year by the European Committee of Social Rights to States parties to the Charter, for Conclusions 2021.

“The failure by the duty bearers to eradicate poverty, and their procrastination in taking action – or taking truly effective action – to make good the fundamental human right protected under Article 30 of the European Social Charter: namely the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion, is a truism”, pointed out the President of the European Committee of Social Rights Giuseppe Palmisano at the online event "Access to social and medico-social services for ALL: a springboard out of poverty", organised by the Council of Europe Conference of INGOs to mark the International Day for the eradication of poverty, 17 October.

He added that in the last months, despite the legal obligation or moral duty of States to ensure for all an effective protection against poverty, the lack of preparedness for the Covid-19 pandemic and the absence of suitable responses to the current crisis, have brought about vast increases in poverty.

Giuseppe Palmisano underlined that States must take seriously their social rights responsibility and their obligations under the European Social Charter. This includes a broader acceptance of the provisions of the Charter (preferably all of them), including in particular Article 30 on the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion.

In addition, he made reference to the questionnaire sent to States Parties of the European Social Charter for conclusions 2021 on health, social security and social protection and invited members of the Conference of INGOs to actively engage with the Committee under the reporting procedure of the Charter.

“The monitoring procedures under the Charter offer many opportunities for States to identify areas where further progress is needed”, concluded the President of the European Committee of Social Rights.