Goal 3: The Nordic societies must accommodate and include everyone

We know that participation – i.e. forming part of meaningful communities and having the opportunity to contribute and feel appreciated by others – helps to boost trust and is necessary for people to thrive in the long term. For this reason, nobody should be left on the sidelines or made to feel forgotten by society and the people around them. However, some citizens struggle with exclusion in the form of unemployment, geographic isolation, homelessness, physical and mental illnesses, low incomes or limited opportunities to participate and be included as a result of inaccessibility or a lack of adapted support. We must seek solutions so that all groups can be included, contribute and attain their full potential. Boosting trust between people and maintaining cohesion in society is all the more important in societies characterised by a large degree of diversity.

Not all citizens currently have the possibility to realise their full potential and to support themselves. For this reason, we need to develop a greater number of easily accessible digital solutions that can enable participation in areas such as education, work and communities even in spite of geographical distances and/or physical ability. Welfare technology solutions and enhanced digital health and social services are necessary in order to enable early support and assistance, and to facilitate more independent lifestyles. At the same time, we also need to investigate how the most vulnerable groups, such as those struggling with homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction or other serious social challenges, can be given the support they need.

The circumstances which characterise a child’s upbring can affect their health and wellbeing, both early on and later in life. Experiences supporting children and young people to help promote health and security in early life and the transition to adulthood must be developed and spread throughout the Nordic Region. The considerable use of screens and digital media in children and young people not only increases the risk of children being exposed to harmful content online, but also of important health-promoting activities being sidelined. Knowledge of preventative measures that safeguard the wellbeing of children and young people in relation to the use of screens and digital media, among other things, should be spread throughout the Nordic countries, and Nordic co-operation in this area should be promoted

Everyone must have the opportunity to form part of a meaningful community regardless of background and circumstances. Not everyone has this opportunity today. For example, this applies to people who live in sparsely populated areas, have poor finances, live with disabilities or face psychological or social challenges in other ways. We must work consciously to improve the support offered to these groups to enable them to participate in local communities, sporting events, associations and other activities that they wish they could get involved with. At the same time, it is also necessary to have preventative measures in place, as well as suitable, alternative communities for children and young people who risk being falling outside of work and education. Actors and initiatives from civil society can play a crucial role in this. This is a role that should be developed further.