Social exclusion is when people are disadvantaged because of who they are. People need the opportunity to participate fully in the life of their community if they are to flourish and realise their potential. However certain groups are excluded from opportunities that are open to others because they are discriminated against on the basis of their race, religion, sexual orientation, caste, descent, gender, age, disability, HIV status, and migrant status or where they live. Discrimination occurs in public institutions, such as the legal system or education and health services, as well as social institutions like the household.
Social exclusion deprives people of choices and opportunities to escape poverty and denies them a voice to claim their rights. Social exclusion is also often a cause of conflict and insecurity. If we are to tackle exclusion effectively we need to identify the barriers that exclude poor people from political, social and economic opportunities and to identify measures to change this. We know that the MDGs will not be achieved if we do not ensure that all people benefit from poverty reduction efforts.
DFID works with partners to address the needs and rights of the most socially marginalised and excluded groups through a number of approaches. A major approach, set out in our White Paper, commits DFID to help build social protection systems to reach 50 million people in more than 20 countries over the next 3 years. Well-designed social protection schemes, such as child and disability benefits, social pensions, transfers to help children from poor families start and stay in school, all aim to reach vulnerable households efficiently, and help them manage risks and shocks which might otherwise force them deeper into poverty.
Public works programs, especially those based upon a guarantee of employment, can help to break tied labour markets that often keep marginal groups trapped in poverty. Programmes such as these directly address poverty and inequality and help promote social and economic inclusion, enabling previously excluded groups to contribute to and benefit from broad-based growth.
DFID provides financial support that helps the Disability Rights Fund provide grants to disabled people’s organisations to advance the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We support research processes led by people with disabilities to ensure greater awareness of their needs and strengthened capacity to conduct participatory action research. Research focuses on identifying where exclusion of persons with disabilities takes place across a range of thematic areas, and informs changes to improve the lives and livelihoods of persons with disabilities in developing countries.