According to the Council of Europe, social inequality is growing in Germany: a report calls on the federal government to do more to combat it. The Council of Europe is focusing on three areas of activity.
A report from the Council of Europe on Germany’s social policy does not give the Federal Republic a good report: In it, the Council of Europe calls for more effort to combat poverty, homelessness and exclusion. The high level of poverty and social disadvantage is disproportionate to the country’s wealth, the report says.
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, welcomed the measures taken by the federal government, such as reforming the social system to make it more accessible, increasing social security benefits and offering more training opportunities for the unemployed. However, further efforts are needed to combat “growing inequality”.
Fight against racism called for
Poverty is a big problem, especially for children, seniors and people with disabilities. Decisive steps are needed to break the cycle of child poverty, the report says. Children’s rights would also have to be strengthened and coordinated with a central authority, because otherwise the needs of children and young people would be overlooked in political decisions – such as during the corona pandemic. In addition, action must be taken against the high poverty rate among senior citizens.
Particular attention should therefore be paid to growing racism, which has the potential to undermine social cohesion and destabilize democratic institutions, the report says. From Berlin it was said that the federal government is “currently working on a new strategy” with a “comprehensive approach” that should include “repressive” and “preventive” approaches.
“Homelessness fight with all means”
Mijatovic was concerned about the increasing number of homeless people. Unfortunately, the right to housing as a human right for everyone is only recognized to a limited extent. In order to prevent and eliminate homelessness, comprehensive and long-term measures are necessary. Germany must use all available means, including interventions in the housing market and changes to tenancy law.
The federal government’s statement said it shared “the Commissioner’s concerns regarding the increasing number of homeless people in Germany.” At the same time, it was pointed out that it had been decided for the first time to adopt a national action plan to overcome homelessness. This is intended to help overcome homelessness and homelessness by 2030.
The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 to protect democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe. It is independent of the European Union. It includes 46 European countries. The now published report follows a visit by Mijatovic to Germany at the end of last year. She met federal ministers and representatives at local level and from civil society.