Municipal programme of shanty towns eradication in Aviles (Asturias)

Host Country : Spain

Place and date : Avilès , 23. - 24.10.2006

Peer countries : Bulgaria - Czech Republic - Greece - Hungary - Portugal - Slovakia - Slovenia

Eradication of shanty towns through provision of access to standard housing, backed by social and labour market inclusion measures.

A programme to eradicate shanty towns was conducted from 1989 to 2004 by the municipality of Avilés, in the Spanish principality of Asturias. At the same time, the populations concerned were provided with access to standard housing. Support measures aimed to stimulate the social and labour market inclusion of the Roma population and to promote intercultural coexistence.

The programme covered four main fields:

Housing: access to decent housing of a kind that would facilitate coexistence and social inclusion, together with the renewal of the urban environment in the areas formerly occupied by the demolished shacks.
Education: raising awareness of the right to a regular education as part of social inclusion and emphasising the need for all minors, notably those from Roma communities, to receive schooling.
Training and employment: improving the employability of Roma people, individually and as a group.
Health: promotion of hygiene, so as to improve the quality of life.

The plan was developed in consensus with Roma associations, non-governmental organisations, family representatives and trade unions, and it had the support of all the political groups within the municipality. Technical support was provided to the municipality’s education, training and employment services, technical services, the local police and social services. Finance came from the local, provincial and national authorities as well as savings banks.

It was found that broad participation and social consensus, together with the involvement of the people directly affected, increased the effectiveness of the activities. Integration between this programme and broader planning worked in favour of social inclusion. Continuous and integrated networking also helped to achieve the goals set. However, experience in practice showed that concentrating relocation within the same enclaves does not facilitate intercultural coexistence or the social inclusion of minority groups.

In European terms, the programme is seen as a practical implementation of Directive 2000/43/EC on equal treatment, regardless of racial or ethnic origin.

Agenda - | en |

Peer Review manager

Ms Florence Pauly ( ÖSB Consulting GmbH )

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Municipal programme of shanty towns eradication in Aviles (Asturias)

Host Country : Spain

Place and date : Avilès , 23. - 24.10.2006

Peer countries : Bulgaria - Czech Republic - Greece - Hungary - Portugal - Slovakia - Slovenia

Peer Review manager

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