Anti-Poverty network reacts to social protection strategy
The European Anti-Poverty Network (Malta) has reacted to Malta’s national report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010, in a letter to social policy minister John Dalli.
EAPN Malta’s reactions, compiled by senior researcher Dr Frances Camilleri Cassar, are the combined effort of NGOs within the network.
The report maps out key concerns and recommendations concerning social inclusion in Malta, in the hope that the document is revisited and revised before final submission to the European Commission.
EAPN said the national strategy needs to become “a more strategic instrument so as to ensure real impact on national policy and on poverty.”
“This means both piloting and mainstreaming innovative ways of promoting participative democracy and above all investing in participation through ensuring adequate resources for and liaison with relevant non government stakeholders.”
EAPN said the report failed to address specific targets and commitments in view of the 2010 EU year against poverty.
“The 15-day consultation period is short. Moreover, disadvantaged groups may not be able to access the document on line or print off a copy.
“The document states that the working group involved in the preparation process included, among others, one NGO representative. It is reasonable to expect that Non-Government stakeholders are informed that they are represented on the NAP working group.”
It also said the contribution of a study of vulnerable groups and their concerns, undertaken by SOS Malta on behalf of EAPN Malta with the aim of giving a voice to disadvantaged groups, is missing in the report.
EAPN is a network of 24 national networks of voluntary organisations and grassroots groups active in the fight against poverty within the Member State of the EU and Norway, and of European organisations whose main activities are related to the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
EAPN Malta currently has 53 member organisations from the voluntary sector and was officially launched in Malta on the 26th November 2004.
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