The legislator has created multiple devices to contribute to the well-being of the population. But it would still be necessary for the texts to be applied. In an opinion issued on Thursday March 24, the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) urges the public authorities to “rethinking access to rights” ; too many individuals are banned even though the phenomenon has been identified for years. Incidentally, this body implicitly criticizes the idea defended – among others – by Emmanuel Macron and Valérie Pécresse of conditioning the active solidarity income (RSA) to an activity.
Lack of information, incomprehensible texts, excessively cumbersome procedures, discriminatory practices, self-exclusion linked to a feeling of shame… There are many reasons that lead people not to benefit from the measures put in place for them. This difficulty has been well documented in the field of social benefits by a profusion of reports. Thus, those who do not receive the RSA even though they are eligible for it represent approximately 30% of the target public, ie several hundred thousand households.
The “non-recourse” affects fields other than solidarity: housing, education, vocational training… In some cases, the administration is directly responsible for the difficulties. The CNCDH mentions, for example, the migrants in Calais who were expelled on the basis of “erroneous procedures”making it impossible for them “to bring an action”. Such situations run counter to “the effectiveness of human rights” and they only did“to amplify” with the health crisis.
“A unique referent”
This is why the authors of the opinion warn about “imperative necessity” to tackle the problem head-on, in order to “respect the rights of every citizen” and D’“ensuring the effectiveness of policies”. “It is necessary to put an end to the stigmatization of subjects of rights who are accused of so-called social assistance at the same time as they have the feeling of being abandoned by the State”, they point out. And to remember that “rights cannot be conditioned on the prior fulfillment of duties”. A transparent allusion to the project carried by Mr. Macron and by Mme Pécresse to submit the allocation of the RSA to fifteen or twenty hours of activity per week.
The CNCDH makes about fifteen proposals to get out of denial. She recommends, in particular, defining policies with the people who are affected by them. According to her, it is necessary to offer users and public service agents alike information systems “clear and intelligible”. The authors of the opinion also recommend “a single point of entry or a single referent adapted to the needs and situation of [chacun] »while emphasizing the virtues of strategies “from “going towards””. They also suggest to “simplify operation” digital platforms and “preserving a physical welcome” for those who are not comfortable with the Internet. “The Human” must, more than ever, be replaced “at the heart of the devices”.