A conference was held today at the Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs, and Social Welfare in Madrid, with a speech by Minister MarĂa Luisa Carcedo. The event was organized by EAPN-ES (the European Anti-Poverty Network in Spain) to commemorate World Anti-Poverty Day, celebrated today, October 17. The organization noted that there are more than 12 million people in Spain living in situations of social vulnerability.
On behalf of Juan Ciudad NGO, MarĂa Ăngeles Lobo, a volunteer from the Projects Department, attended and shared the highlights. Minister Carcedo emphasized the importance of maintaining the welfare state, which is largely possible thanks to social spending and which impacts various areas through which poverty is combated.
On behalf of EAPN-ES, Carlos SusĂas, president, and JosĂ© MarĂa de LeĂłn and Isabel Lozano, representatives of the State Participation Group, spoke. They emphasized the importance of not stigmatizing people living in poverty and combating aporophobia, which also affects many immigrants who are rejected for being poor. They also stated that recent studies indicate that poverty continues to rise in Spain and is unequal, affecting women the most.
Cristina Gallach, High Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda, also spoke at the event. She emphasized that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires the involvement of all public and private sectors, as well as citizens, and also developed countries, as this is an issue that concerns not only developing countries.
Children also had a voice through Amparo GonzĂĄlez, deputy director of the Office of the High Commissioner for the Fight against Child Poverty, who recalled a saying from a little girl that she thinks perfectly sums up the current situation: "The opposite of poverty is not wealth, but justice."
Read the EAPN news https://eapn.es/noticias/1049/eapn-espana-conmemora-el-17-de-octubre
Source: MÂȘ Ăngeles Lobo.
Edition: Adriana Castro.
Above photo: EAPN
Bottom photo: Juan Ciudad NGO
