Restoring Dignity: Tackling Shame and Stigma in Social Protection for Children and Families
Event Date: 17th October 2024, Time: 8.00 AM EDT (2.00 PM CEST)
You can find the recordings here and the slides here .
Background: The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP), celebrated annually on October 17th, aims to promote understanding and dialogue between people living in poverty and the wider society. This year's theme will highlight one of the often-forgotten dimensions of poverty and focus on "Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment".
Poverty is more than a lack of income and material deprivation – it also has social dimensions. Societal institutions, including social protection policies, may inadvertently or deliberately stigmatise children living in poverty, and their families, which reinforces feelings of failure and shame. This is particularly true where poverty is ascribed to individual failings rather than structural causes.
In many contexts, social protection is still not recognized as a fundamental human right, despite its affirmation in international agreements. These agreements also uphold the right to dignified treatment. The way social protection programmes, such as cash transfers, are framed, structured and delivered is key to whether they are (perceived as) stigmatising or as upholding beneficiaries´ dignity and self-respect.[1] Listening to the voices of those living in poverty, particularly children, and ensuring communities are involved in policy design is crucial to this discussion.
In alignment with this year’s IDEP theme, the Global Coalition to End Child Poverty organized an online event which will focus on addressing shame and stigma within social protection programming, with a special emphasis on children and families. The aim of the event was to provide insights and strategies on how to design social protection programmes that uphold dignity, reduce stigma, and create environments where all children and families can thrive.
Speakers:
Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
Robert Walker, Emeritus Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford University and Professor at the Jingshi Academy, Beijing Normal University
Manu Tissera, Chief Transformation Officer, Sarvodaya Movement (Sri Lanka)
Tyler Byrd, ATD Fourth World activist (US)
Aurelia Drayak, ATD Fourth World and Teen Advocacy activist (UK)
Moderators:
David Lambert Tumwesigye, Co-chair, Global Coalition to End Child Poverty
Sola Engilbertsdottir, Co-chair, Global Coalition to End Child Poverty
[1] See also Chapter 5 Universal child benefits, dignity and shame of this report: https://www.unicef.org/media/72916/file/UCB-ODI-UNICEF-Report-2020.pdf