The BES indicators (Fair and Sustainable Wellbeing) are a set of 152 indicators used to measure well-being in Italy, updated and commented annually in the Bes Report. They range from areas such as health and education and training, to work and economic well-being.
But why not also include kindness as a real indicator, designed – why not – to be used to guide public policies, from the management of social services to the promotion of culture, up to the promotion of economic policies?
This hypothesis is advanced by Italian Kindness Movement who, in view of World Kindness Day on 13 November, announced the bill for the establishment of a Kindness Actentrusted to the President of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into femicide and gender violence, the Honorable Semenzato.
An institutionalization of kindness is necessary because this is first and foremost a political act, explained Natalia Re, president of the Movement.
The proposed law
We presented the bill to Parliament at the hearing which aims to recognize kindness as a XIII BES (…) with which Italy would give a strong signal of commitment towards the construction of a more inclusive, respectful and supportive society, emphasizing the importance of daily behaviors that contribute to the improvement of common life.
The bill is also accompanied by two related texts, one aimed at the world of education, to promote kindness as an educational and bullying prevention method, including online, and one aimed at the world of work, public administration in particular, aimed at promoting inclusive and respectful professional environments, free from harassment and discrimination.
The Charter of the Six Values of Kindness
As an integral part of the proposal, there is also a Charter of the Six Values of Kindness composed of six fundamental principles:
designed to be used to guide public policies, from the management of social services to the promotion of culture, up to the definition of economic policies.
Our goal – explains President Re – is to build a society that, through kindness, promotes more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Kindness in the world
There are already many countries that have regulated the topic.
An example is Japan which has laws that promote mutual respect and cultural inclusion, such as the Tolerance Education Program in schools which aims to teach young people the importance of kindness and respect towards others, particularly towards minorities and people with disabilities. Or Canada, which had already launched the Multiculturalism Acta federal law that promotes multiculturalism as a fundamental value for Canadian society. In Bhutan, however, Gross National Happiness (GNH) was introduced, a measure of well-being adopted to guide public policies, an alternative to traditional gross domestic product (GDP), which focuses on four main areas: economic development, cultural conservation, environmental protection and good governance.
While in Australia the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence and various local laws and initiatives to combat bullying and violence, particularly in schools. Finally, Scandinavian countries also promote kindness, respect and social inclusion as an integral part of public policies.
