162 participants (of presently 300 FRP member organisations) discussed fundamental rights perspectives on poverty and social exclusion and core elements of the FRA annual work programme for 2012 and beyond.

The recently drafted DARE policy recommendations on "Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion through Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education EDC/HRE" were included in the FRP meeting reader and discussed in plenary sessions and working groups.
DARE member Anne Stalfort (Association of German Educational Organisations AdB / Humanity in Action) emphasized the crucial role of adult and non-formal education in reducing poverty and social exclusion. If through EDC/HRE socially excluded people become aware of their fundamental rights, they are empowered to live up to their full potential as active democratic citizens. If the demand for access and participation is reduced to top-down "WE must help THEM"-initiaves, the sector of intermediaries will grow, but socially excluded persons will not be enabled to access public services and participate directly.
In support of this, Joanna Goodey (Head of Freedom and Justice Department, FRA) emphasized that rights need to be communicated to vulnerable groups. Gabriele Zimmer (MEP,Committee on Employment and Social Affairs) demanded the development of a concept of decent work and the need for a right to life long learning.
DARE member Chrysis Michaelides (European Social Forum, Cyprus) pointed out, that disablity and mental illness are major reasons for social exclusion in Europe and therefore patients´ rights have to be strenghtened.
The FRA currently develops a web-tool for the Fundamental Rights Platform (e-FRP). This e-platform will include a public database of civil society organisations and offer space for consultations, exchange of reports, good practices and event announcements. Thematic discussion groups and national/regional FRP-groups are also on the horizon. A demo version will be launched in May.