Poverty
Poverty is not just a lack of money, but a violation of basic human rights: access to adequate food, education, healthcare, housing and social participation is restricted. In Liechtenstein, older people, children and young people as well as single parents and singles are particularly at risk of poverty. More information is needed about the causes of poverty and targeted measures to combat it.
There is poverty in Liechtenstein. This is stated in the new 2023 Poverty Report. The VMR and other organizations had been calling for this report for years. It provides important statistical findings on the risk of poverty and those affected by it. However, there is a lack of detailed qualitative analyses that provide information on which groups of people are particularly at risk of poverty and the reasons that lead them into poverty. In order to close these gaps, the Office of Social Services initiated the "Together against poverty" project in January 2024, in which those affected and specialists were interviewed to gain additional insights. The VMR took part in the project as a specialist authority and advocated for the human rights dimension of poverty to be given greater consideration - including discrimination and social exclusion. The report published in November 2024 contains various approaches in the areas of information, awareness-raising and networking. However, it lacks concrete measures to combat the causes. The VMR wants to continue to work towards this.
