Caritas draws up ‘roadmap’ pushing for ‘social rights as human rights’

A Catholic charity has published a “roadmap for social justice in Europe”, with proposals to counter growing “poverty, exclusion and indifference”, writes Jonathan Luxmoore. “The financial and economic crisis that started in 2008 proved to be a ‘stress test’ for European social models, and has shown most models are unable to address adequately all consequences of such crises,” said the Brussels-based Caritas Europa. “On the contrary, solidarity mechanisms have fallen under more pressure because of austerity measures taken by governments.”

The report, Social Justice and Equality in Europe, said that inequalities could be reduced by changes to labour markets and social protection systems, as well as “measures to promote the family”, such as a monthly allowance for children, and the redefinition of “social rights as human rights”.

“Caritas Europa believes structures should serve people, not the other way around,” said Caritas Europa’s secretary-general, Jorge Nuno Mayer.