Mobilization in Nice at the Place du Palais de Justice, from 4 PM to 7 PM, two small tents will be set up as a well-known symbol… The fight against misery.
Created in 1987, the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty is the amplifier of the daily fight against misery. It gives a voice to very poor people who are the main actors and to all those who join with them in attempting to eradicate poverty in all countries of the world.
By making the fight of those who are already acting against misery heard, this day encourages others to get involved as well. It also reminds the leaders of our countries of their commitments and duties in the fight against poverty everywhere in the world.
This October 17, people of all conditions and opinions will gather in France and around the world for the 25th World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty, created in 1987, in Paris, on the Human Rights and Liberties Plaza at Trocadéro, at the initiative of the ATD Fourth World Movement and its founder Joseph Wrésinski.
Everywhere, in Paris, France, and the world, initiatives are being taken to widely gather those who, with the poorest, want to make the fight against extreme poverty a priority. On this day, a primary place is reserved for the expression of people living exclusion or extreme poverty. They remind us of the requirement not to abandon anyone.
POVERTY IN FRANCE: WHAT REALITY AND WHAT FIGURES?
On October 17, 2007, President Sarkozy committed to reducing poverty by a third in five years and to publish a progress report every year to be accountable to the French. For two consecutive years, the government published these poverty figures around October 17, but this year, it has not communicated these essential data.
ATD Fourth World noted, based on recent figures published by INSEE, that the situation is worsening but asserted that poverty is not inevitable.
Today, 8.2 million people (13.5% of the population living in France) live with less than 954 euros per month which is +0.5% between 2008 and 2009 becoming increasingly poorer. 4.5 million people live
with less than 795 euros per month. Their standard of living dropped by another 1.1% between 2008 and 2009.
Some data:
- The impact of the social environment on academic success is greater in France than elsewhere (source CESE).
One in five students leave the education system without a diploma. This impact of the social environment on academic success is growing: a worker’s child is more academically failing today than 20 years ago. In the 1990s, they had 10 times less
chance of going to the Baccalaureate than a manager’s child; in the 2000s, they had 15 times less chance.
- Precarity as a policy for combating poverty:
Housing: 2.5 million euros are spent per day in accommodation to precariously house families: wouldn’t it be better to build affordable social housing for these families?
In the real estate sector, the proportion of social housing is decreasing in France (15.7% in 2010 compared to 16.5% in 1999). Likewise, the proportion of very low-rent social housing (PLAI)
What school, for what society?
The theme chosen for this year is school. This Day invites us to publicly testify that another humanity, without misery, is possible and that school is essential to it, particularly because very poor parents place in it the hope that their children will not have to go through what they
themselves went through.
Example: in the Paris region, families whose only income is social benefits are too often denied access to social housing. In Île-de-France, one million people are too poor to afford the HLM (low-income housing) rent (source social housing companies).
Unemployment: The unemployment rate is 35% in sensitive urban areas compared to 17% nationwide. The gap has increased since 2007 (source IGAS).
Health: at 35 years old, the life expectancy of an inactive person is still 28 years, a worker’s is 39 years, and a manager’s is 46 years. These social health inequalities are increasing.
As of December 31, 2010, the CMU Fund estimated that the number of people not using CMU-C (Complementary Universal Health Coverage, a mutual insurance supplement attached to health coverage synonymous with social security) was 1.7 million, representing a non-use rate
of more than 20%.
Resources: according to figures provided by ONPES (based on INSEE data), the number of people below the poverty line at 60% and 50% has decreased between 2000 and 2008. Meanwhile, the number of people below the poverty line at 40% has increased during the same period.
Based on these data, one observation: the poorest become poorer than others: it’s the intensity of poverty. According to CREDOC, 56% of poor households (monthly income < 60% of median income) have an average of 250€ per month left to live on.
Reminders: In 1988, RMI was valued at 50% of the minimum wage, and basic RSA is now at 43% of the minimum wage.
Amount of basic RSA for one person: 466 euros (minus 56 euros for a housing flat rate); for two people: 700 euros (minus 112 euros for a housing flat rate); a family with two young children: 980 euros (minus 138 euros for a housing flat rate).
- Stigmatization increases, suspicion of fraud, control, etc…
At ATD Fourth World’s request, the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Commission recommended that the government consider a new criterion: discrimination based on social origin.
The stigma on the fraud of CMUC beneficiaries is a sham: in 2010, 588 cases of fraud were detected out of a total of 4.7 million CMUC beneficiaries, representing 0.01%.
Note: non-use of social aid (notably due to fear of stigmatization) generates a non-expenditure far exceeding the total amount of fraud. 35% of potential basic RSA beneficiaries do not apply for it – and 70% for RSA activity. (National Observatory of Inequalities)
More than ever, we need places and times where the conditions are right for those who never have the opportunity to meet can talk without fear, without suspicion and finally reflect together and build peace.
The World Day is one of those times.
