Shades of Poverty. Desafios ao Desenvolvimento Humano Integral.

Since Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, poverty has ceased to be understood solely as a lack of material resources. It has come to be considered holistically, encompassing the various deprivations people face in all areas of their lives and affecting their capacities. Today, poverty seems to function more radically as any obstacle to the person's integral development. Discriminatory social attitudes towards the phenomenon of poverty vary and have been the subject of ethical reflection, with Adela Cortina's innovative concept of 'aporophobia' standing out.

The Conference aims to promote interdisciplinary dialogue around the theme of poverty, deepen our understanding of it, and offer theoretical/concrete responses for the local/ global eradication of the phenomenon of poverty based on the contributions of the speakers' different fields of specialization (human, social, and health sciences). The Conference aims to contribute to integral human development, always considering the person as an end in itself (Kant) and its universality, extending to all without exception.

The conference will be structured into thematic sessions with national and international guests from different areas. There will be two panels for presentations, selected through a previous call for abstracts, and an exhibition of posters with times for their presentation during the two days. The presentations will both focus on conceptual and empirical studies related to:

. Culture and Poverty: How is poverty represented artistically and culturally, and what is the impact of these representations on the public, particularly the most disadvantaged, and on social policies? How is culture accessed in contexts of poverty, and what are its potentials and restrictions? What role does cultural education play in eradicating poverty? How does preserving cultural heritage contribute to integral human development in disadvantaged communities?

. Economy and Poverty: How can economic growth models be designed to ensure that human development is inclusive and sustainable? Which fiscal, monetary, and financial inclusion policies most effectively reduce poverty and promote integral human development? Case studies and global empirical evidence are welcome. What is the relationship between investment in education, technological innovations, poverty reduction, and the promotion of human development? What economic policies could maximize these impacts, especially on vulnerable populations?

.Education and Poverty: How does poverty affect children's education and development, and what is the role of schools in mitigating its effects on children? Do teachers' expectations and preconceptions affect the academic performance of impoverished students? Should education policies encourage the adaptation of curricula according to families' socio-economic factors? What are the obstacles for disadvantaged students at different levels of education, and how can they be overcome? 

. Health and Poverty: Why is health linked to the sustainable development of a society? How are economic inequalities reflected in health disparities? How does poverty put people's health at risk? How can the relationship between health and poverty be approached integrally?

. Law and Poverty: What are the primary legal obstacles faced by vulnerable populations, and how can law frame social policies to eradicate poverty (health, education, work, etc.)? How can we provide a legal framework for migrant populations and create the conditions for them to flourish? What is the role of international organizations in creating and implementing legal policies to eradicate poverty? How can States collaborate more effectively within these structures to promote integral human development?

. Philosophy and Poverty: What is the position of the main philosophical traditions about poverty? How do the principles and concepts of citizenship, personal freedom, responsibility, equality, and justice relate to poverty? How can the phenomenon of poverty be understood concerning the problems of luck and merit? What social policies might be most effective in combating extreme poverty? Which ethical theories can best justify the fight against poverty and consequent discrimination, and how can these be reconciled with integral human development?

. Psychology and Poverty: How does poverty affect human development, and what interventions can best mitigate this impact? What is its effect on mental health, particularly personal esteem and trauma? What factors contribute to promoting the resilience of individuals in disadvantaged contexts, and how can they be promoted?

. Religion and Poverty: How do different religious traditions narrate and interpret poverty? How can faith provide hope and resilience in situations of deprivation? What roles have religion and the Church played in assisting and developing poor communities throughout history? How does Catholicism interpret integral human development, and what are its challenges in the contemporary world? How can Christian education and formation promote integral human development?

. Social Work and Poverty: Which innovative social work practices have effectively reduced poverty and promoted integral human development? Case studies and successful methodologies.

How can social workers influence formulating and implementing inclusive public policies to eradicate poverty? How do the ethical principles of social work influence work with people living in poverty? What are the most common ethical dilemmas, and how can they be resolved?

. Sociology and Poverty: What social dynamics fuel social exclusion, and how can they be reversed? How do inequalities in gender, ethnicity, social class, disability, and family dynamics (family structure, intergenerational relationships) perpetuate poverty and influence human development? What is the role of social movements in the fight against poverty and in promoting integral human development?  What impact do social inclusion policies have on reducing poverty?