Socially Excluded – a theme at the Book Fair

In thirteen seminars and nearly fifty stand events the City Missions in Sweden focus attention on the plight of the most excluded people in Sweden today. Social exclusion across all ages and phases of life is brought to the fore. Homelessness, poverty and isolation are just some of the subjects considered from different angles.

- There are many people in difficulties, and these tough economic times make it even harder for them. The City Missions want to call attention to the plight of these people. Next year is an election year as well as the European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion, says Elisabet Reslegård, who points out that the Book Fair is a natural forum for launching a campaign.

- This is the biggest cultural event in Sweden every year. The Book Fair offers an incredibly effective channel to get out a message. You can reach the general public, the media and the public sector in Sweden - as long as you have a serious goal. It is important to have a mix of people with personal experience of exclusion, together with researchers and experts. We have also invited a number of writers and cultural personalities who have highlighted issues of social exclusion.

The programme includes many well-known names such as Henning Mankell, Annika Thor, Mia Törnblom, Tapio Salonen, Karin Johannisson, Sven-Eric Liedman, Roy Andersson and Suzanne Osten. Not to mention the rampager Martin Lindgren and the archbishop Anders Wejryd.

After the Book Fair the work will continue throughout Sweden, through lectures in conjunction with Sensus adult education in the seven cities where the City Missions are based, and more events during the Almedal political week next summer.

- Our goal is to get the issue of social exclusion onto the political agenda before the election and in the long run to change the social situation in Sweden, says Elisabet Reslegård.

* Göteborg, Kalmar, Linköping, Malmö, Stockholm, Uppsala and Västerås