Living in dignity in the 21st century : poverty and inequality in societies of human rights : the paradox of democracies / Council of Europe.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Council of Europe, author.

Contributor:

European Union, funder.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Poverty--Europe--21st century.

Poverty.

Human rights--Europe--21st century.

Human rights.

Civil rights--Europe--21st century.

Civil rights.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (215 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Strasbourg, France : Council of Europe, 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In the early 21st century, poverty, impoverishment and inequalities are increasing across the European continent. These phenomena not only weaken the social cohesion of European societies, they also violate human rights, including social and civil and political rights, and question the functioning of democracy. How can people living in poverty make their voices heard in polarised societies, where more than 40% of assets and 25% of revenues are held by 10% of the population? This guide is the result of two years of collective discussion held within the framework of the project "The human rights of people experiencing poverty". It was prepared with the assistance of many individuals and organisations, including people living in poverty, researchers, associations and representatives of public authorities. As well as offering a critique of the current situation, analysing inequality and poverty through the prism of human rights, democracy and redistributive policies, the guide also invites the reader to explore the possibilities of a renewed strategy to fight poverty in order to restore a sense of social justice. It makes proposals that aim to overcome the stigmatisation and categorisation of people, opening pathways of learning to build well-being through sharing, avoiding waste and by enhancing public awareness around the principle of human dignity as a human right for all.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Foreword

A long, shared

pathway towards

re‑establishing

priorities

Part I The causes and consequences of poverty in Europe today: in search of a new approach

1. The fight against poverty or inequalities?

1.1. A few words of introduction on the question of poverty

1.2. From "how to get poverty off our conscience" to "how to push the greatest number into poverty"

1.3. The unequal distribution of wealth and its consequences: economic uncertainty and proliferation of poverty

1.4. The inability to envisage a future society

2. The consequences of poverty in today's Europe: a problem that concerns the whole of society

3. how to combat poverty in today's Europe

Part II Present-day context and current trends: a critical appraisal

Introduction

1. Definitions and measures of poverty in Europe

2. Human rights and poverty

2.1. Introductory thoughts on rights and poverty

2.2. European human rights texts and their limitations

2.3. How to implement rights in the context of action against poverty?

2.4. Conclusion: combating poverty by promoting human rights

3. Democracy and poverty

3.1. Democratic participation and the mobilisation of people experiencing poverty: potential and limitations

3.2. "Security", poverty and space

3.3. Standard democratic processes: challenges and opportunities

4. Poverty and resources: scarcity or waste?

4.1. Natural resources, poverty and environmental damage

4.2. A society of waste

4.3. "Poor quality" for "poor people"?

5. Poverty and public redistribution policies

5.1. Key concepts

5.2. Recent trends: are fiscal policies progressive?

5.3. Reviewing political decisions on public finance

5.4. Concluding remarks on redistribution policies

Part III A necessary new strategy

Introduction.

1. A new approach to poverty

1.1. Redefining poverty

1.2. Securing well‑being for all

2. Reference concepts for a new strategy

2.1. Moving beyond individual freedom of choice that disregards consequences to promoting sharing of social responsibility in the long term

2.2. Commons and commoning to secure the well‑being of all

2.3. Rethinking the role of public institutions

3. Combating poverty and inequalities: concrete proposals

3.1. Proposals to ensure the effectiveness of human rights and democracy

3.2. Proposals to ensure the "security" of all, from the perspective of the common goods and waste avoidance

3.3. Proposals in support of progressivity and social justice in public finances.

Notes:

"Methodological Guide"--Cover.

"Provisional Version."

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed November 10, 2014).

ISBN:

92-871-7827-5

OCLC:

922998539