The Social Welfare Database project was launched in 2014. The database catalogues national social policies, legislation, and sources of financial support as they pertain to social welfare available to victims of Nazi persecution. This includes social welfare programs that are available to the national population generally, as well as programs targeted specifically to Holocaust survivors. The database aimed to collect relevant data from all 47 Terezin Declaration countries through direct collaboration with governments. The survey was led by Prof. Lyle Scruggs of the University of Connecticut in the United States, who was working with a team of international experts.
The database is based on survey detailing specific provisions of policies particularly relevant to the current population of survivors and other victims across Terezin Declaration countries.
The survey was focused on:
- social insurance pensions and social assistance for those of advanced age;
- the cost, access and coverage provisions surrounding health care benefits
- long-‐term care at home and in institutions
- national programs granting targeted benefits for Holocaust survivors and other victims of Nazi persecution
The purpose of this project is to compile a searchable, publicly accessible dataset detailing national social policy provisions applicable to Holocaust survivors and other victims of Nazi persecution. This includes social protections available to residents in the country (such as public old age pensions), as well as policies that may be targeted specifically at victims of Nazi persecution. The information contained in the dataset will assist governments and other organizations in identifying best practices and creating policies to help survivors of Nazi persecution live lives in dignity.
Out of 47 Terezin Declaration countries 30 governments submitted formal responses. Governmental surveys were supplemented with information from a variety of national and international sources. The combined surveys will be circulated to national governments for comment before the final database is made public. Much of the information will be presented in an on-line visualization tool that will allow individual users to create their own maps and reports from the database. Future plans include adding data for future years in order to compare progress over time in securing the social welfare of survivors and other victims of Nazi persecution in all Terezin Declaration countries.
The database has been officially launched at the International Conference on Social Welfare for Victims of Nazism, which was held in Prague on May 26-27, 2015.
On Jun 2 3, 2015 the database will be introduced in the seminar on Results of the International Conference on Social Welfare for Victims of Nazism which took place in the European Parliament in Brussels in cooperation with MEP Bastiaan Belder, Vice-Chairman of the EU Delegation for Relations with Israel.
The European Shoah Legacy Institute will be hosting another seminar - devoted to the progress made by EU member states - for MEPs at the European Parliament in Brussels in October 2015.
Here you can download Questionnaire in English and Russian language.
To see a full text of the Project report on Database please click Project Report
To see a presentation by prof. Lyle Scruggs please click PDF Presentation
To watch a video please click Video