EAPN - European Anti Poverty Network

Next week UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Olivier De Schutter, will present his new report: The Burnout Economy: Poverty and Mental Health to the UN General Assembly in New York. "The vicious cycles connecting #poverty to #mentalhealth problems are the price we pay for the current focus on stimulating #competition and #performance. In a society obsessed with increasing total economic output, these cycles can be broken, provided we put #wellbeing above the endless quest for #economicgrowth". This could not come in at more urgent times: we have no time to waste, poverty and inequity are making people chronically sick, disabled, dying prematurely. The report identifies the mechanisms that expose people in poverty to a heightened risk of mental health conditions, and examines how, despite the extraordinary resilience of many people in poverty, mental health issues can perpetuate poverty. (kudos, i really love this acknowledgement). It comes with a call to move from a biomedical approach to mental health, which treats it as a problem of the individual, to an approach that addresses its social determinants. "In order to combat the global tide of #depression and #anxiety, more should be done to fight poverty and #inequality, and to address economic #insecurity. In addition to increasing #investments in mental health care, the Special Rapporteur identifies addressing the #psychosocial risks caused by the casualization of #labour, strengthening #socialprotection by providing an unconditional #basicincome, #destigmatizing mental health conditions and facilitating access to #greenspaces in order to reconnect with #nature, as priority interventions". https://lnkd.in/d4HyhmrB Christine Brown Yannish Naik Caroline Costongs EAPN - European Anti Poverty Network Social Platform EuroHealthNet Mental Health Europe Claudia Marinetti Ledia Lazeri

Each year, EAPN - European Anti Poverty Network organises the People’s Summit, bringing together people experiencing poverty, our national members, political stakeholders, and grassroots organisations. In 2024, the policy event will take place on 28 November in Brussels. 📅🇧🇪 This year, the focus will be on the upcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, aiming to gather views on its future content. 📝💬 The Summit is dedicated to strengthening the co-creation of policymaking between people experiencing poverty and decision-makers. Stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks! 📢 #PeopleSummit #PeP #FightPoverty #SocialJustice #AntiPovertyStrategy #EUAPS

👶 Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, yet across Europe, child poverty remains a persistent issue. Despite being one of the wealthiest and most progressive regions globally, no state is free from the challenge of child poverty. While the circumstances may differ across countries, the outcome is always the same: children's rights are not fully respected, protected, or fulfilled. Early intervention and strong, supportive relationships with caregivers are critical to safeguarding young children from the harmful effects of poverty, insecurity, and neglect. These early years are pivotal for lifelong well-being. For children to truly thrive, we must advocate for policies and actions that go beyond just providing food and shelter. Therefore, the EU Child Guarantee needs to prioritise their overall well-being and go beyond material concerns. We also need to recall that children are individuals with human rights, just like adults, and should be included in decision-making processes impacting them. As we mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, let’s remember that investing in children today means building a stronger, more inclusive future tomorrow. Fight Poverty, Not the Poor! #EndPoverty #1710Campaign #ChildGuarantee

Today, 17 October, on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we are proud to launch the National Poverty Watch Reports from EAPN members. These reports monitor key trends and policies, raise awareness about the realities faced by people experiencing poverty, and offer concrete recommendations supported by real-life examples. They provide an insightful look at poverty across Europe. Here are some highlights: 🇭🇷 Numerous families in Croatia cannot solve the housing issue, while over 600,000 residential properties remain unused. 🇫🇮 90% of children from low-income families reported challenges in making ends meet: 14% felt there was not enough food in the household; 30% had to give up their hobbies; 87% expressed concern about their family's livelihood; 80% experienced stress; 64% reported poor mental health (Lapsen ääni 2023, Poverty Watch Report 2024). 🇮🇹 Income from work no longer protects people and their families from serious economic and social hardship. In 2023, over half of part-time employees wanted to work more, a situation disproportionately affecting women. 🇱🇹 In 2023, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for men aged 65 and older reached 23%, while for women in the same age group, it surged to 43.2% (Eurostat, Poverty Watch Report). 🇳🇱 The non-take-up rate for supplementary benefits is high. People without direct contact with social affairs departments or regional unemployment offices often don't know about available benefits. Others fear they may have to repay a portion next year, which discourages them from applying. 🇳🇴 The need for affordable housing forces many to move to more remote areas where housing costs are lower. However, this often necessitates owning a car, as public transport options diminish and distances increase. 🇵🇱 Among individuals from poor households, 11.2% reported living in homes that are not comfortably heated during winter, which is twice the rate compared to non-poor households. 🇷🇸 Compared to most EU countries, Serbia's social transfers have a smaller impact on poverty reduction. In 2022, Serbia was among the five countries where social transfers had the least effect on reducing poverty. 🇵🇹 From an age perspective: 22.6% of children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion; 20.2% of older people (aged over 65) are in this situation, rising to 21.6% for those aged over 75. (Continue reading in the comments 🔽🔽🔽) Check all the reports here: https://loom.ly/otevnfo #EndPoverty #17October #InternationalDayForTheEradicationOfPoverty #PovertyWatch

Today, on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, EAPN - European Anti Poverty Network has joined forces with 12 civil society organisations and MEPs Marie Toussaint and Pasquale Tridico to urge political group leaders and MEPs in the European Parliament to commit to renewing the Parliamentary Intergroup on Fighting Against Poverty. In our letter, we call on Members of Parliament to: 📍 Formalise their political group’s support for the Intergroup on Fighting Against Poverty and ensure its approval on 16 December. 📍 Promote the Intergroup within their political groups to ensure representation across the political spectrum. 📍 Collaborate with other political groups to secure the existence of key intergroups that intersect with the fight against poverty, such as the Just Transition Intergroup, Child Rights Intergroup, ARDI Intergroup, and LGBTQI+ Intergroup. Rhetoric alone is insufficient. Let’s work together to make poverty eradication a political priority across Europe. Read our open letter 👉 https://lnkd.in/dm_9sDhD #FightPoverty #PovertyIsAPoliticalChoice #EndPoverty #EPAntipovertyIntergroup

🚨 Poverty isn’t invidual… It’s systemic! Every day, people face barriers that prevent them from accessing their rights, especially when systems aren’t built for everyone. From complicated online forms to lack of digital access, too many are left behind. On 17 October, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we’re shining a light on the systemic and structural causes of poverty. 🌍 We can’t keep blaming individuals. It’s time to fix the systems that perpetuate inequality and leave people stuck in poverty. 💡 Let’s create solutions that include everyone. What have you noticed in your community or country? What barriers do people face? Drop your thoughts below and join the conversation. 👇 Fight Poverty, Not the Poor! #EndPoverty #17October

Last week, EAPN was invited to the MINET - Minimum Income Network meeting in Berlin, to discuss the issue of non-take-up of minimum income. We had the opportunity to deliver a presentation and convey the following messages:  ⚪ Non-take-up of minimum income is mostly due to complex administrative procedures and stigmatising accessibility conditions, such as forcing people to take up jobs or having a mandatory permanent address.  ⚪ The issue of non-take-up mostly relate to poor choices made by policy makers. It is therefore crucial to involve people experiencing poverty in any policy decision impacting them in order to stop feeding the vicious circle of stigmatisation and poverty.  ⚪ The missing poor (homeless people, undocumented people, people living in institutions and/or deprived of liberty, Roma people and Travellers...) are disproportionately impacted by non-take-up. It is crucial to reach out to them and ensure they can access any form of support.  ⚪ Digitalisation of social protection is not the golden standard to make support more accessible. Many people do not have access to digital tools or know how to use them. ⚪ We urgently need EU-wide data collection on the issue of non-take up, including the experience lived by the missing poor.  ⚪ The 2023 Council Recommendation on Minimum Income is a good start by acknowledging non-take-up as an issue. Its wording remains however vague and fail to address structural discriminination, especially against the missing poor. ▶️Member states should therefore come up with comprehensive and inclusive strategies aiming to ensure minimum income and any other form of support are accessible and taken up by people experiencing poverty. We look forward to keep working with the European Commission and the MINET on this pressing issue.

Struggling with complex online applications for social protection? This is not just an inconvenience—it’s a structural barrier that leaves many vulnerable people unable to access their rights. Having a smart device doesn’t mean everyone has the digital skills to navigate complicated processes. Digital exclusion is real, and complex systems only make it harder for people to receive the support they need. We need simpler, more accessible systems that work for everyone. Without these changes, we continue to leave people in unsafe living situations. On 17 October, we mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This month, we’re highlighting the systemic and structural causes of poverty and the role digitalisation plays in it. Fight Poverty, Not the Poor! 

🚀 EAPN is hiring a Financial and Budget Officer! If you’re experienced in financial management and eager to contribute to a cause with a real impact, this is your opportunity to join the EAPN - European Anti Poverty Network. As our new Financial and Budget Officer, you will play a vital role in overseeing our organisational budget, managing specific project budgets and providing detailed financial reports to guide key decisions. 📅 Application Deadline: October 31, 2024 📌 Financial and Budget Officer 📍Location: Brussels, Belgium 🔗Contract: Full-time position 📑 Full Job Description https://loom.ly/5QDTN8E Send your CV, a motivation letter outlining why you would be a great fit for this role, and 2 references to our Administration & Financial Manager at philippe.lemmens@eapn.eu. Interviews will be held in the first and second week of November. Be part of our mission to create a more inclusive Europe. Apply now and join our dedicated team! #Hiring #JobOpportunity #Finance #Budget #NonProfitJobs #JoinUs #EAPN

To ban begging is a way for the Swedish government to give the police the opportunity to drive people away if they stand on the streets for too long. It gives the strong message that the poor are not welcomed, that people experiencing poverty should be out of sight!  We can't take away from people the right to ask for money since that is for many the ultimate opportunity to get some income. We must fight the causes of poverty, not its effects! ➡ full article here: https://lnkd.in/dmSrNCb4 🖊️ Karin Johansson, EAPN Sweden