Integration of under-represented groups (ESARG0001)

Commitment ID

ESARG0001

Commitment Title

Integration of under-represented groups

Problem

Full political engagement and citizen participation have an opportunity cost that only citizens and groups that are better-off can often afford due to the obstacles to access arising from work- and family-related obligations or social integration. In addition, the technical vocabulary and legalese used by the administrations to communicate with citizens is not usually adapted to the different target profiles, thus generating in practice a kind of political and citizen participation that standardises society, excluding certain groups.

Status quo

At present, although citizen participation processes and prior public consultations do exist, the public that attends these events usually do so at a professional level, i.e., they are related to social entities. While these groups are quite balanced in terms of gender, there are difficulties in integrating other communities such as children and adolescents, foreign populations and people with disabilities (other than processes with a subject matter that directly involves them).

In the Aragón Gobierno Abierto [Aragon Open Government] community, there are a total of 2,185 people registered, 1,055 women (48%) and 1,130 men.

Data from Plataforma del Tercer Sector indicate that some 300,000 people in Aragon have some sort of disability, are in situations of social vulnerability or are caretakers of those individuals in their immediate surroundings. Third Sector activities are estimated to represent 1.45% of the region’s GDP.

Action

Launching projects that promote the empowerment of groups that have greater opportunity costs in order to mobilise them in political and citizen participation. One of the opportunities in this field is the combination of open government and social innovation, particularly focusing on fostering and promoting participation among groups that traditionally remain on the fringes of participatory processes and, in general, of public life: women, youths, children and immigrants. Through projects like Aspasia (participation + feminism), Open Kids (children’s participation), Social Impact Academy (youths), Hateblockers (alternative digital narratives) and Gobierno Fácil (disabilities and mental health), a breeding ground of communities is being created, bringing the government to them and vice versa. The objective here is not only open dialogue but also community engagement by creating mixed communities with shared aims.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

The generation of themed projects aimed at these groups creates spaces of trust and proximity with the administration, thus facilitating their participation in decision-making related to sector-specific and general public policies.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

Participation and the Right to Decide. The right to express your opinion, to propose ideas for improving a law or plan, to influence public policies and to receive a response.

Primary Policy Area

Civic Space, Other/NA

Primary Sector

Citizenship & Immigration, Cross-sectoral

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?