The European Year against Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010) has come to an end. Many a discussion has been held and many a contribution has been written on the subject. However, the definition of poverty that guided this discussion was mainly ‘material deprivation’ which is not entirely comprehensive.
According to one definition, “material deprivation refers to the inability for individuals or households to afford those consumption goods and activities that are typical in a society at a given point in time”. Focusing solely on material deprivation presents the option to either blame the individual for not having resolved the issue, or to blame governments for not increasing ‘social welfare’ benefits.
The Joint Report for Social Protection and Social Inclusion (2010) highlights that “adequate income support is crucial for people’s ability to live in dignity, but it should also be complemented with policies aimed at helping them back on the labour market and participate fully in society. Active labour market policies and ambitious lifelong learning strategies have an important role to play in fighting poverty and social exclusion”.
The UN definition of poverty also highlights more than material deprivation and notes that poverty is “a denial of choices and opportunities” and “a lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society”.
There is an inextricable link between poverty and social exclusion. According to one EU report, “problems such as bad housing or homelessness, debt, poor healthcare, drug and alcohol abuse, low education levels, and lack of access to basic services and to many of the social, cultural and other activities most people take for granted, all keep people on the margins of society, and prevent them playing a full and active role”.
Alternatively, individuals who feel excluded from society may feel reluctant and unable to integrate themselves into aspects of society which are essential for their economic stability and independence. Individuals who experience social exclusion in this regard experience not only a feeling of isolation, but a distinct fear of re-integration.
The effects of social exclusion clearly indicate that monetary solutions alone are not enough to alleviate an impoverished situation. Instead of being used as a solution, social security should be used as a trampoline as suggested in ‘The Sustainability of Malta’s Social Security System’. This would provide people with the opportunity to sustain themselves while developing to re-integrate into society.
The Commission for Social Development (2010) recognises that there is an urgent need to eliminate physical and social barriers with the aim of creating a society accessible for all, with special emphasis on measures to meet the needs and interests of those who face obstacles in participating fully in society.
At a public level, contributions have been made in the form of providing services which may not be otherwise available to those experiencing poverty or at risk of poverty, such as access to ICT, free public wifi, and education services at local councils and libraries, as well as access to various publicentities and NGOs which helpprovide individuals with the skills to re-integrate.
The public also has the opportunity to bring about other very significant changes. What is essential for the reduction and prevention of poverty is the elimination of discrimination and prejudice, which leads to the exclusion of individuals or groups from mainstream activities and subsequent socialisation. Excluding an individual can ultimately disable individuals from caring for themselves and their families.
With a focus on capability development, Sen (1999) proposes five instrumental freedoms which complement each other to help improve the general capability of a person. These are: political freedoms, economic facilities, social opportunities, transparency guarantees, and protective security, and are consistent with social integration goals. It is important that all people have access to each one of these.
As Charles Darwin said, great is our sin if the misery of the poor is caused by our institutions rather than by the laws of nature.
Ms Bugeja is chief executive officer of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services.