Progress since Copenhagen
Strategies on Fighting Social Exclusion

     Mr. Soares began her presentation by stating that any successful strategy for fighting social exclusion in the Caribbean, had to be created on very radical and revolutionary ideas given the class and race character of the region.

     She argued that meaningful social reform must be designed to include all those who have a stake in the success or failure of society. This she said was clear in all of the literature on social reform. She indicated that it must engage and incorporate policies which promote greater equitable distribution of income and wealth to incorporate marginalized people gradually into the mainstream of the economies. The reform of public expenditure, and the emphasis on the provision of higher levels of expenditure on social development were important. The increase in investment in productive economic activity, and greater participation of workers in mainstream economic activities, reforming and strengthening public and private institutions charged with managing these processes were also crucial.

      From this position Dr. Soares argued that the issue of social exclusion could not just be confined to poverty reduction or eradication, but rather the product of a combination of social and economic policies specially targeted towards achieving soci-economic equality. This she argued must not be confined to a few segments of society but include women, youth and disabled people.

     Accordingly social and economic policy must be geared towards eliminating marginalization and promoting participation by the poor in the productive process. Dr. Soares argued that very little progress has been made in reducing social exclusion.

     She stated that policy makers have forgotten that the issue of social exclusion in the Caribbean is one shaped by a specific historical experience, with the very structures of Caribbean societies based on social exclusion. She said that it was absolutely necessary to challenge the institutions which create and promote poverty and social exclusion.

     Dr. Soares indicated however that there was no evidence to prove that much of this was happening in the Caribbean. She argued that even though there has been an increased focus on social development issues by a number of governments in the region, many of these programmes sought to keep people within the confines of their social existence rather than liberating them from the devastation of social exclusion. There was little by way of community and national empowerment of the poor in Caribbean societies. There continues to be a lack of coordinated and meaningful policy response to neutralize marginalization of the poor, young people and women.

     She highlighted the fact the women continue to exist on the margins of society despite being a key part of the productive and reproductive life of Caribbean societies. Whilst there are a number of departments serving women issues in the region, very little has come by way of key strategies to eliminate discrimination of women in society.

     Dr Soares argued that it is extremely difficult to look at the post Copenhagen process in isolation from these historical facts. Colonialism and imperialism which have been prevalent features of Caribbean societies and which invariably always oppress women and young people must be dealt with first before any progress is made.

     She stated that the situation is even worse for people with disabilities. She said that very few countries of the region have been able to put together policies which affect in a positive way the lives of people with disabilities. She argued that those who were in other ways discriminated against, also discriminate against persons of lesser physical and economic ability than themselves.

     Dr. Soares went on to say that the same could be said for the situation of young people in the region. She said that very few countries implement national youth policies. She felt that there has yet to be a proper understanding of the problems facing young people.

     She argued that there needs to be an examination of the co-relation between social exclusion and social justice. In this she argued that social justice and the plight of marginalized people was closely associated with the political systems which currently exist in the region. These she said were built on exclusion and exploitation of the poor, while promoting the interest of the wealthy.

     With this view Dr. Soares stated that there had to be a concerted policy of political reform throughout the Caribbean to ensure that the poor had greater control over the state and its resources. She felt that this is where the NGO and civil society communities have an important role to play: not only in the implementation of social service projects, but importantly in radically changing policies and systems which are known to be discriminatory and exclusionary.

     She concluded by saying that she was convinced that this was where the effort should be placed. Policy reform, and the emergence of new ideas on social inclusion were key to tackling social discrimination and social justice.

     Having said this she felt that there was a lack of political will and ideological clarity in terms of the thinking among policy makers as to what was required. She was clear that this was principally the reason why progress since Copenhagen had been limited.