The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity presented in Ponta Delgada the Regional Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion to the Committee on Labour and Social Security of the National Assembly, defending it as a pioneering initiative at national level.
 
During the meeting with the members of the Committee, Andreia Cardoso explained the reasons that have led to the implementation of this Regional Strategy, which will be subdivided into biannual plans over a period of 10 years.
 
The 2018-2019 Action Plan comprises 83 actions and involves about 15 different governmental agencies, as entities responsible for actions, and a wide range of partners in order to respond to various relevant aspects in the fight against poverty.
 
The Regional Secretary also stressed that, if we want to achieve the priority goals of this Strategy, "the direct participation of people is necessary by involving them and making them jointly responsible in the pursuit of social policies while granting them autonomy."
 
The 2018-2019 Action Plan defines a series of measures to be developed by various governmental departments in partnership with local institutions. These efforts will mainly focus on the comprehensive and inclusive development of children and young people, from the beginning of life, with the aim of breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and inequality between generations and reducing structural poverty in the Azores.