THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL WELFARE IN GREECE – POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION – CHILD PROTECTION AS A MAIN PILLAR OF THE WELFARE SYSTEM (IN GREEK)
ISBN: 978-960-341-160-4 e-ISBN: 978-960-341-159-8
This publication documents the proceedings of the landmark conference organized by the National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA), focusing on the challenges of child protection, particularly regarding the safeguarding of the most vulnerable children, the fight against child poverty and social exclusion, and the implementation of the European Child Guarantee in Greece. Through the synergy of public and private entities, national coordinators, international organizations, and social workers, this volume highlights child protection not merely as a social benefit, but as the core pillar of the welfare system and the fundamental guarantor of the country’s future.
Across five thematic sections, the book analyzes:
- The evolution and the economics of welfare in Greece in the post-crisis era.
- The innovative European framework of the “Child Guarantee” and the National Action Plan for the “Child Guarantee” in Greece, including comparative references to models such as those of Spain and Sweden.
- The pivotal role of Independent Authorities, UNICEF, Public Bodies and Civil Society in shaping reforms.
- The ” children’s own voice ” as documented through research, focus groups, and experiential filmed interviews.
- The political dimension of the issue, through the positions of Members of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament.
By combining quantitative economic data with qualitative testimonies and emphasizing the importance of solidarity, political will, and collective action to combat social inequalities and ensure a better future for all children, this edition concludes with an urgent call: the transition from fragmented interventions to a holistic, child-centered model. The “Child Guarantee” emerges as the primary tool for addressing child poverty and social exclusion, underlining that cooperation between the state, institutions, and children is the only path toward social cohesion.