The time of inequalities
After the months of lockdown, Italy (together with the rest of the world) has started a gradual recovery of activities: at this stage, however, it is clear that the pandemic has acted as a great accelerator of inequality, revealing the fracture points of an increasingly divided society.
"In times of crisis, the effects of formal and substantial inequalities become even more evident". This phrase opens an appeal recently launched by several civil society associations that have asked the Italian government to take urgent measures to give protection from the Coronavirus to asylum seekers and refugees living in reception centres, as well as to the homeless.
The Coronavirus crisis has in fact amplified the unequal treatment and discrimination existing in our society and also at international level. It strongly highlights the problems of a system that continues to produce "human waste" and social exclusion. If human rights and the recognition of the human dignity of all people are taken seriously, starting with the last, access to protection and care regardless of social status should be protected and guaranteed universally. But this is not the case. Especially in these years of deregulated globalisation with national sovereignty.
Another appeal to which FOCSIV has contributed in the framework of the Faces of Migration project concerns children and asylum seekers in the Greek islands, which also involves resident communities. There are over 40 thousand people at high risk of infection. There is a request to urgently evacuate and relocate these people to other EU member states, at least the children. But few states have responded. Solidarity applies first and foremost to their own citizens, and to those who can raise their voices. Not for the latter
The inequalities in the world of work (which workers are most affected by sector, territory and type of contract), the gender gap (women are more penalized because they do both paid work and care work for children and the elderly), the generational splits (the consequences on youth employment and education): the analysis of trends that were already in place for some time will be the basis for explaining what happened during and after the lockdown. The challenge is not only to demolish an economic and social model but above all to build a new one: what can we do now, with the funds of the European Recovery Plan, to combat inequalities?
The International Literacy Day in this particular context focuses "on teaching and learning in the Covid-19 crisis, with particular attention to the role of educators and the change of pedagogies in a lifelong learning perspective". "The crisis we are experiencing", says Mattarella, "requires attention to be paid to the gap in knowledge and opportunities, which risks widening precisely because of the impact of the global pandemic on education systems and socio-economic dynamics. The closure of schools and, in the countries where it has been possible, the use of information technology for distance education, have affected learning and training programmes".
"Literacy enables people to participate fully in social life through the concrete exercise of the right to education and offers the possibility of improving livelihoods" - reiterated the Head of State.
https://www.internazionale.it/notizie/2020/10/01/virus-disuguaglianze-ferrara
https://www.chiudiamolaforbice.it/2020/03/29/le-diseguaglianze-ai-tempi-del-coronavirus/
https://www.focsiv.it/volti-delle-migrazioni/
https://www.focsiv.it/news/emergenza-covid-19-limpatto-sui-diritti-dei-cittadini-stranieri-e-le-misure-di-tutela-necessarie/#more-1895951
https://zon.it/mattarella-senza-istruzione-non-ce-liberta/
Italie