Public procurement concentrates large public sector's purchasing power, and has a significant impact on each country's economic development. The purpose of public procurement procedure is transparency, non-discrimination and accordance to the principles of fair competition in acquisition of goods, services and works necessary for the smooth functioning of the public administration. Besides, public procurement can be one of the most important instruments for sustainable development and other purposes useful to the whole society and the economy of the country. This article briefly discusses the concept of sustainable public procurement, reveals its main ideas and applications. One of them, the social sphere, was chosen the main object of the research. The possibility to decrease unemployment, to increase an integration of socially vulnerable group, and to achieve other socially-oriented goals through an effective implementation of the social aspect of sustainable public procurement has been illustrated. Thus, the article analyses the concept of social procurement, assesses the current situation in Lithuania, overviews the good practice of other countries and provides recommendations for measures to extend the application of socially oriented procurement.
Социально-экологические проблемы современности ; Равенство между мужчинами и женщинами в сфере экономики, доступа к образованию, услугам здравоохранения, сфере обеспечения политических прав и свобод является одним из важнейших в мире индикаторов уровня демократизации общества. Содействие гендерному равенству способствует устойчивому развитию экономических и социальных систем. Тем не менее, ни у одной страны мира не получилось добиться полного равноправия между мужчинам и женщинами = Equality between men and women in the field of economy, education, health and politics is the most important indicator of the level of democratization of society. Promotion of gender equality contributes to the sustainable development of economic and social system. But not country in the world, could not achieve this
The need to protect employee wages is based on the premise that these wages fulfill avital function of maintenance and support of the employee and his family. Wage protectiontools provided by the legislation seek to ensure the actual receipt of payment by theemployer, either wholly or in a minimal part, even when their employer is in a situation ofinsolvency or inability to meet debt payment.
Uz pomoć relevantne literature u radu se analiziraju društveni aspekti starenja i obolijevanja. Autor zaključuje da ni jedna znanstvena teorija izdvojeno ne sadrži ključ rješenja za istraživanja tih složenih procesa i položaja osoba starije životne dobi u suvremenom društvu te da je najprimjereniji interdisciplinarni pristup. Da bi se ostvario zadani cilj ovoga članka, u tekstu se raspravlja: a) o teorijama koje pomažu upoznavanju starosti i starenja te omogućuju definiranje socijalne i zdravstvene politike u konkretnim uvjetima, što izravno utječe na odnos pojedinca, obitelji i društva prema sve većoj grupi starijih i bolesnih osoba, te b) o spoznaji starosti i starenja kroz prošlost i sadašnjost koja pomaže afirmaciji onih obrazaca ponašanja i aktivnosti koji su alternativa jednostranom, stigmatiziranom, ponekada i segregacijskom odnosu prema osobama starijim od 65 godina. To može pomoći da institucionalno vođene reforme socijalne skrbi i zdravstvenoga sustava omoguće kvalitativno drukčiji, u nekim segmentima i posve različit odnos prema starijima kako se taj dio društva ne bi osjećao suvišnim i odbačenim od obitelji i društva u inače teškim uvjetima tranzicije te kako bi se našli odgovori na sve složenija i aktualnija socijalna, zdravstvena, pravna, ekonomska i etička pitanja koja su u nas: a) aktualna, b) nedovoljno obrađena, c) bez sustavnoga i sveobuhvatnoga prikaza. ; With the help of relevant literature the paper analyses social aspects of ageing and getting ill. The author concludes that none of the scientific theories by themselves hold the solution for studying these complex processes and the position of old people in the modern society, and that the interdisciplinary approach is the best. To accomplish the set goal, the article discusses: a) theories that help us understand old age and ageing, and allow us to define social and healthcare policies in everyday conditions, which directly affects the attitude of individuals, families and the society towards the constantly growing group of old and ill ...
The article presents features of social formation and development of youth in Ukraine, namely in the context of youth policy. The concepts of «youth policy», «youth, young citizens», «youth social formation», «socialization», «the basic components of the process of youth social formation and development» are defined. The definitions of « youth social formation» and «socialization of personality» are compared.The scientists' works who paid attention to youth policy in general and some aspects of social formation and development of youth are analysed. There are scientists who analysed the problems of modern youth socialization in their works. The article highlights the scientists who study the basic principles, directions and mechanisms of implementation of state youth policy, the evolution of state youth policy and prospects for its further development, organizational and legal mechanisms of implementation of state youth policy in Ukraine at the regional level, features of formation and implementation of state youth policy, etc. The legal principles of youth policy have been characterized and, under the current legislation of Ukraine, the basic conditions for social formation and development of youth in Ukraine have been outlined. The analysed literature identified the components of the process of youth social formation and development in Ukraine. The article identifies the main purpose and objectives of youth policy in Ukraine. The periods in the human life, the main social tasks facing the person and the priority directions of the state policy for the given period are distinguished. The directions of the state policy in the youth social formation and development according to certain periods of life of a young person are made. The main tasks, principles and directions of the state policy of promoting the youth integration into society are outlined. The main directions of state policy in the field of youth social formation and development in Ukraine are outlined. ; У статті представлено особливості соціального становлення та розвитку молоді в Україні, зокрема в контексті молодіжної політики. Визначено поняття «молодіжна політика», «молодь, молоді громадяни», «соціальне становлення молоді», «соціалізація»; розкрито основні складові процесу соціального становлення та розвитку молоді. Здійснено порівняння визначень «соціальне становлення молоді» та «соціалізація особистості».Охарактеризовано правові засади молодіжної політики та основні умови для соціального становлення та розвитку молоді за чинним законодавством в Україні.
The article presents features of social formation and development of youth in Ukraine, namely in the context of youth policy. The concepts of «youth policy», «youth, young citizens», «youth social formation», «socialization», «the basic components of the process of youth social formation and development» are defined. The definitions of « youth social formation» and «socialization of personality» are compared.The scientists' works who paid attention to youth policy in general and some aspects of social formation and development of youth are analysed. There are scientists who analysed the problems of modern youth socialization in their works. The article highlights the scientists who study the basic principles, directions and mechanisms of implementation of state youth policy, the evolution of state youth policy and prospects for its further development, organizational and legal mechanisms of implementation of state youth policy in Ukraine at the regional level, features of formation and implementation of state youth policy, etc. The legal principles of youth policy have been characterized and, under the current legislation of Ukraine, the basic conditions for social formation and development of youth in Ukraine have been outlined. The analysed literature identified the components of the process of youth social formation and development in Ukraine. The article identifies the main purpose and objectives of youth policy in Ukraine. The periods in the human life, the main social tasks facing the person and the priority directions of the state policy for the given period are distinguished. The directions of the state policy in the youth social formation and development according to certain periods of life of a young person are made. The main tasks, principles and directions of the state policy of promoting the youth integration into society are outlined. The main directions of state policy in the field of youth social formation and development in Ukraine are outlined. ; У статті представлено особливості соціального становлення та розвитку молоді в Україні, зокрема в контексті молодіжної політики. Визначено поняття «молодіжна політика», «молодь, молоді громадяни», «соціальне становлення молоді», «соціалізація»; розкрито основні складові процесу соціального становлення та розвитку молоді. Здійснено порівняння визначень «соціальне становлення молоді» та «соціалізація особистості».Охарактеризовано правові засади молодіжної політики та основні умови для соціального становлення та розвитку молоді за чинним законодавством в Україні.
Increased pressure on risk industries to reduce their negative impact on society has resulted in an increasing volume of "risk" and "responsibility" communications from interest groups known as Social Aspects Public Relations Organizations (SAPROs). SAPROs have been criticized for being the "front groups" of risk industries (e.g., the tobacco, gambling, sugar, and alcohol industries). Operating within the neoliberal policy framework, SAPROs seek to forestall regulation and prioritize industry profits over public health. Building on risk industry research from the public health sphere, this article examines the SAPRO phenomenon and situates it in the political public relations (PR) literature. Specifically, it considers how SAPROs perform an indirect lobbying function on behalf of their funding industries. Using DrinkWise as an example of an alcohol SAPRO, this article shows that SAPROs represent a novel development in front group strategy and examines how this development intersects with neoliberalism. This article also argues that SAPROs are deployed by risk industries to hegemonically promote the idea of personal responsibility and that their indirect lobbying function may be necessary to the continuance of neoliberal policies.
While initially hailed to be the silver bullet for tackling climate change, reducing oil dependency and providing an opportunity for rural development especially in poorer regions, severe criticism concerning the environmental and social performance of bioenergy has been raised recently. One potential solution for this problem that is increasingly discussed now is the certification of bioenergy. In the wake of this discussion, a broad range of certification initiatives emerged during the last years. However, this issue is predominantly debated in terms of the environmental implications. Accordingly, governmental approaches to this issue often neglect the need for including social aspects into sustainability principles and criteria, most prominently here the EU Renewable Energies Directive (RED). Non-state voluntary certification initiatives, by accounting for the social implications of increased bioenergy production, could therefore be seen as complementary governance instruments that are able to fill the void left by state regulations in this respect. After briefly addressing the reasons why state regulations tend to neglect social aspects concerning this matter, this paper seeks to explore whether voluntary bioenergy certification schemes could really be able to fulfill these hopes and provide the solution for the missing consideration of social criteria for sustainable bioenergy. And how could these private non-state initiatives do so in a politically and democratically legitimate way? So as to deal with these issues from a scientific perspective, a distinct analytical framework to evaluate the legitimacy of private governance is presented. Based on this framework, five voluntary bioenergy certification schemes are selected and their consideration given to its social dimension is examined. In order to address the characteristics of our conception of non-state legitimacy, the actor constellations behind these certification initiatives are analyzed with a view to determine the structural representation of ...
The study of populism is actualized by the presence of a social order from interested political actors who use populism to implement their programs and in the struggle for power, focusing on the possibilities of change and reform. The relevance of the study is obvious given the lack of comprehensive study of populism in Ukraine, proper political evaluation of previous studies, rethinking some theses of individual researchers, and especially in connection with its actualization as one of the popular principles in action, behavior in modern political practice and our state. Today in Ukraine, the intensification and emergence of new manifestations of populism have become a sign of a general long-term failure on the path of technological modernization, in efforts to achieve rapid economic growth and in the fight against corruption. The tendency to the increasingly negative attitude of many citizens to complex and compromise procedures of democratic institutions, the desire for quick and simple solutions, intolerance of different views contain a double threat - to roll into anarchy or establish an authoritarian regime. In Ukrainian literature interest in populism appeared in the late 1990s. The initial study was the basis of his reception of analytical findings Western scholars. Today domestic historiography populism presented a number of papers in the form of articles. Amid the general characteristics of the phenomenon of populism, based primarily on the legacy of Western political scientists, highlights particular issues such as manifestations of populism in the Ukrainian national movement, modern Ukrainian politics populist methods of political struggle, philosophical discourse of the concept. Thus, populism can be considered an inevitable companion of political freedom and democracy. In some places, it is a force that promotes political participation and reform in the interests of many low-status social groups. By inclining to oppose the rights of the majority to the interests and rights of certain minorities, populism can be a threat to the rule of law and basic political and civil liberties. Wherever populist leaders gained power, it became authoritarian, accompanied by abuses and oppression (but not destruction) of the opposition. ; У статті акцентовано увагу на популізмі як наявність соціального замовлення зацікавлених політичних акторів, які використовують популізм для реалізації своїх програм та у боротьбі за владу, зосереджуючись на можливостях змін та реформ. Актуальність дослідження очевидна з огляду на відсутність всебічного вивчення популізму в Україні, належної політичної оцінки попередніх досліджень, переосмислення деяких тез окремих дослідників, і особливо у зв'язку з його актуалізацією як одного з популярних принципів дії, поведінки в сучасна політична практика та наша держава. Сьогодні в Україні активізація та поява нових проявів популізму стали ознакою загального довгострокового провалу на шляху технологічної модернізації, в зусиллях для швидкого економічного зростання та в боротьбі з корупцією. Тенденція до дедалі негативнішого ставлення багатьох громадян до складних і компромісних процедур демократичних інституцій, прагнення до швидких і простих рішень, нетерпимість до різних поглядів містять подвійну загрозу - впасти в анархію або встановити авторитарний режим. В українській літературі інтерес до популізму з'явився наприкінці 90-х. Сьогодні вітчизняний історіографічний популізм представив низку статей у формі статей. Серед загальних характеристик явища популізму, що базується насамперед на спадщині західних політологів, висвітлюються такі проблеми, як прояви популізму в українському національному русі, сучасна українська політика, популістські методи політичної боротьби, філософський дискурс концепції. Таким чином популізм можна вважати неминучим супутником політичної свободи та демократії. Подекуди це сила, яка сприяє політичній участі та реформам в інтересах багатьох соціальних груп із низьким статусом. Схиляючись протистояти правам більшості інтересам та правам певних меншин, популізм може становити загрозу верховенству права та основним політичним та громадянським свободам. Скрізь, де популістські лідери здобували владу, вона ставала авторитарною, що супроводжувалось зловживаннями та утиском (але не знищенням) опозиції.
Based on empiric investigations and the study of documents from specialized public institutions, the authors analyse in this article the extent, manifestations, causes and consequences of single-parent families in Arad County. As social entities with a high risk of social exclusion, the authors identify practical measures for intervention by public authorities in the sense of optimizing socialization, social work and balancing these families, especially their children, by taking into account both Romanian and European legislation in this field. Preventing the reproduction/increase in the number of single-parent families must rely on the complete knowledge of this social phenomenon, with the need to establish databases and map the dispersion of single-parent families within administrative-territorial units. The decrease in the number of families with a high social risk over time is the result of correlated and harmonized public policies, aimed at fighting poverty, discrimination, unemployment, lack of access to education, while ensuring the general background for economic development and prosperity. The study is determined by the fact that many times the parents and the children of single parent families find themselves in the situation of not being able to make ends meet, the lack of finances, education and proper housing making it impossible for them to live a decent life. By identifying, through specific scientific methods such as document analysis, interviews, case studies, the particular types of problems facing single parent families, we consider we will succeed in offering a strong basis to motivate decision makers to establish additional social protection measures that will contribute to the reduction of the causes that maintain this social category among vulnerable groups.
The article examines in detail the problems associated with the development of Buddhism, which introduced a personal aspect to religion and embodied the idea of the need for compassion for all living beings. A special place is occupied by the analysis of the moral and social component of this religion. Buddhism is seen as a protest movement that originated in India and is directed against the frozen hierarchy, mechanical ritualism and greed of the Brahmins. This religion challenged the Brahmin hierarchy, appealing primarily to warriors, kings, and the mass of the free population. The Buddhist community was a brotherhood of mendicant monks who did not perform any rituals, but only showed people the way to salvation by the example of their lives. Buddhism is also one of the radical reformist teachings, not only intellectually, but also socially. He called people, first of all, to inner perfection, the last stage of which can be achieved only through kindness and benevolence to all living beings. The central point of this article is devoted to the debate about the reality of the Buddha's existence, his teaching and the transformations of this teaching. A significant place is given to the description of the way of life of Buddhist monks, the relationship within the Buddhist community and with the laity. The reasons for the attractiveness of Buddhism and its easy adaptability to other religious doctrines are substantiated. The possibilities of transformation of Buddhism, including within the framework of syncretic creeds, as well as in the activities of totalitarian and pseudo-religious sects, are shown. Examples of the politicization of this religion and its inclusion in the activities of fundamentalist organizations are given. ; В статье детально рассматриваются проблемы, связанные с развитием буддизма, который привнес в религию личностный аспект и воплотил идею о необходимости сострадания ко всем живым существам. Особое место занимает анализ нравственной и социальной составляющей данной религии. Буддизм рассматривается как протестное движение, зародившееся в Индии, и направленное против застывшего иерархизма, механической обрядовости и корыстолюбия брахманов. Эта религия поставила под сомнение брахманскую иерархию, апеллировал в первую очередь к воинам, царям и массе свободного населения. Буддистская община представляла собой братство нищенствующих монахов, которые не совершали никаких обрядов, а лишь примером своей жизни указывали людям путь к спасению. Буддизм — это также одно из радикальных реформистских учений не только в интеллектуальном, но и в социальном аспектах. Он призывал людей, прежде всего, к внутреннему совершенствованию, последней ступени которого можно достичь лишь благодаря доброте и доброжелательности ко всем живым существам. Центральное место в данной статье посвящено спору о реальности существования Будды, его учению и трансформациям этого учения. Значительное место отводится описанию образа жизни буддийских монахов, взаимоотношениям внутри буддийской общины и с мирянами. Обоснованы причины привлекательности буддизма и его легкой адаптивности к другим религиозным доктринам. Показаны возможности трансформации буддизма, в том числе и в рамках синкретических вероучений, а также в деятельности тоталитарных и псевдорелигиозных сект. Приведены примеры политизации этой религии и ее включения в активность фундаменталистских организаций.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the European Union tourism policy has been increasingly focused on initiatives in the field of social tourism, which are one of the ways of achieving sustainable development in the European tourism economy. Most of the research projects that have so far been conducted in the field have focused on the benefits for its participants (subjective one: Children and youths, seniors, disabled people, people (families) with low incomes and/or unemployed, big families). However, there is a lack of research on the analysis of the place of social aspects of tourism in the general socio-economic policy of the state and, in a detailed aspect, in the sectoral policy represented by tourism policy, as well as its potential impact on the development of the national economy and meeting tourism needs of the society. The authors tried to fill this research gap in this study. The aim of the study is to differentiate the issues related to the social aspects of tourism policy from the entire socio-economic policy pursued in the European Union and selected member states (Poland and Slovakia). The article is of a theoretical-analytical-conceptual nature. Empirical research, due to the nature of its issues, was conducted with the use of qualitative research methods. The results of the conducted research showed that activities in the field of social tourism policy are conditioned by organizational solutions for the entities that undertake them, as well as economic ones, especially in the field of financing. Moreover, they made it possible to propose the concept of a model social tourism policy with an indication of its place in the European policy on the basis of the past and future EU financial perspectives.
Rare diseases are a heterogenic group of disorders with a little in common except of their rarity affecting by less than 5 : 10.000 people. In the world is registered about 6000-8000 rare diseases with 6–8% suffering population only in the European Union. In spite of rarity, they represent an important medical and social problem due to their incidence. For many rare diseases have no treatment, but if it exists and if started on time as being available to patients, there is a good prognosis for them to be able for normal life. The problems of patients affected by rare diseases are related to the lack of diagnosis and timely undergoing as well as their treatment or prevention. Orphan drugs are products intended for treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases, but for their development and marketing the industry has not been interested in yet because of their marketing reasons. Patients suffering from a rare disease although belonging to the vulnerable group for their specific health needs,is becoming invisible in the health care system due to their additional needs unproperly recognized. Ethical problems faced by patients, but also health care professionals are related to the allocation of medical diagnostics, unequal approach to health care, inappropriately specialized social services as well as therapy and rare orphan drugs unavailability. Ethical questions related to clinical trails on orphan drugs, population screening and epidemiology testing on rare diseases will also be discussed in this paper.
Interest in ecological restoration has recently intensified as scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders use restoration in management strategies to address and mitigate global climate change and biodiversity loss. Northern ecosystems offer special challenges to restoration managers because of their short growing seasons and long recovery periods. This special feature of Ecology and Society on ecological restoration in northern regions draws together 11 papers based on presentations from the conference "Restoring the North", convened in October 2011 in Selfoss, Iceland. We summarize two themes of this conference: ( 1) setting objectives and evaluating success in restoration, and ( 2) legislation, policy, and implementation of restoration. We conclude that northern countries altogether comprise a significant knowledge base and suggest five actions to enhance restoration practices within them: ( 1) improved documentation of restoration actions, including objectives, measures and results, ( 2) regular evaluation of restoration progress and outcome, ( 3) coordination of conservation actions among northern countries, including location of restoration actions to sites where they are most useful in a global context, ( 4) formation of a common platform to strengthen development of research about ecological, political, social, and technical aspects of ecological restoration, and ( 5) education of new generations of restoration actors who can work in diverse biogeographic settings and cultures.