The Essl Foundation and the Essl Social Prize will via the development of a social index -the Essl Social Indices - make a broader sphere of operation possible, to be able to fulfill on a wider basis the concerns of socially disadvantaged people.
The scientifically exact but otherwise graphic rehabilitation of inequality and injustice is a demonstrably efficient method to obtain the interest of the Media and therewith also politicians in otherwise incomprehensible subject matter, and in this manner to make improvement. The Essl Social Indices are created in conjunction with the most important NGOs, experts and pressure groups.
Based on the prototypes of the Pisa-Study, the African Governance Index or the World-Corruption Index Social indicators were created:
- Through the (originally) Europe-wide comparison, differences in the way these countries deal with social weaknesses compared to Austrian Provinces will be displayed, and at the same time Best-Practice examples for the different remedies shown.
- via inclusion of the Media the public will have its social responsibility and own initiative challenged, and the best and most efficient ideas will be published. The responsible politicians will also be directly confronted with the results, for example in the form of a Petition.
Austria should develop itself in the long term as a model country in the field of social affairs, harmonise the difference between it's provinces and demand minimum standards within the European Union. In addition new solutions must be developed in conjunction with politicians, NGO’s and universities, which can ensure a more efficient use of the existing financial means.
In this manner over many years target groups of socially disadvantaged people will be supported and a wide-reaching effect attained, which itself will lead to a sub-index of the Essl Social Index.
To start off is the Essl Social Index for Disability Governance (ESI-DG), which should be published during 2010, and inequality of the legal situation and the living conditions of people with disabilities within Europe made clear.
