Introduction to socially inclusive learning
Role of governments
We need to remember that all these actions to promote social inclusion are directly related to efforts, perspectives, institutions and policies of the governments at different levels. National, regional and local governments should work in cooperation to be able to create socially inclusive and coherent societies, because those policies and institutions “define the ‘rules of the game’ for social interactions and the distribution of power, status and control over resources, they can drive social exclusion or, alternatively, mitigate its impacts” (UN, 2016, p. 22). It is also crucial to create inclusive policy processes at the universal level due to transnational nature of the factors leading to exclusion. UN and World Bank have been working on the mitigation of the social exclusion and promotion of social inclusion at the global level. UN put social inclusion in centre in the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by Member States in September 2015. One of the main goals of the 2030 agenda is to leave no one anyone behind. WB views addressing social exclusion as a moral imperative. WB website on social inclusion presents a large amount of data, information and resources on http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/social-inclusion
Key actions need to be taken by the governments in order to leave no one behind (UN, 2016, p. 121):
Key actions need to be taken by the governments in order to leave no one behind (UN, 2016, p. 121):
- promoting social inclusion as well as tackle the barriers that create and sustain exclusion. A universal approach to social policy, complemented with special or targeted measures, is the key to addressing the underlying causes of exclusion and social injustice.
- institutional change which ensures that institutions are inclusive can contribute to levelling the playing field and providing all citizens with opportunities to participate in public life on equal terms.
- Changing the social, cultural and political norms that underpin or perpetuate unequal power relations and the disadvantages experienced by some social groups. This is often a long-term process, dependent on national and local circumstances, but with political will Governments can influence and help transform them.
- coordinates and monitors national policies;
- promotes the sharing of best practices in fields like employment, poverty and social exclusion and pensions;
- makes laws and monitors their implementation in areas like rights at work and coordination of social security schemes.
EU objectives for social protection and social inclusion
In order to make “a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty and social exclusion”, three objectives were set under the social inclusion strand, that are:
Key Priorities of the EU
In order to make “a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty and social exclusion”, three objectives were set under the social inclusion strand, that are:
- “access for all to the resources, rights and services needed for participation in society, preventing and addressing exclusion, and fighting all forms of discrimination leading to exclusion”; 102 Report of the Secretary General on the Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons [A/62/157], 2007, 37
- ”the active social inclusion of all, both by promoting participation in the labour market and by fighting poverty and exclusion”;
- ”that social inclusion policies are well-coordinated and involve all levels of government and relevant actors, including people experiencing poverty, that they are efficient and effective and mainstreamed into relevant public policies, including economic, budgetary, education and training policies and structural fund programmes”.
Key Priorities of the EU
- increase labour market participation by expanding active policies and ensuring a better linkage between social protection, education and lifelong learning;
- Modernize social protection systems to ensure they are sustainable, adequate and accessible to all;
- Tackle disadvantages in education and training by investing more in human capital at all ages and focusing particularly on the most disadvantaged groups;
- Eliminate child poverty by guaranteeing their education, increasing the assistance given to their families and ensuring that their rights are protected;
- Ensure decent accommodation for vulnerable groups and develop integrated approaches to tackling homelessness;
- Improve access to quality services in the fields of health, social services, transport and the new information and communication technologies;
- Eliminate gender-based discrimination and increase the social integration of people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and immigrants.
Source: Adapted from DESA 2009, 36-37.
Author responsible of this learning unit: Filiz Keser Aschenberger, Danube University Krems