Combating poverty

Poverty prevents people from exercising their rights. Securing material resources and complying with strict requirements from the authorities drastically restricts the lives and freedom of choice of those affected. People living in poverty therefore often feel powerless. In the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN Covenant I), states undertake to guarantee all people on their territory a minimum standard of living worthy of human dignity, an adequate standard of living and opportunities to continuously improve their living conditions. The eradication of poverty by 2030 is also the first of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2023, a national poverty report was published for the first time in 15 years. For 2020, it shows an at-risk-of-poverty rate of 14.1%, a poverty rate of 3.1% and a combined income and asset poverty rate of 0.9%. Single-person and single-parent households, older people and migrants are particularly at risk. The report provides key financial figures. However, it does not take into account human rights dimensions such as social participation, education or health, nor does it provide any information on the structural causes or consequences of poverty.

In the reporting year, the Office for Social Services carried out the "Together against poverty" project to develop measures to combat poverty with the involvement of civil society. Following a survey of affected organizations and specialists and a workshop, three measures were identified in the final report: The further development and repositioning of the Poverty Round Table during 2025, the planning and implementation of a prevention campaign by the Office of Social Services in 2025-2026 and the planning and implementation of a project to increase the transparency of services offered by the state.

 

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