Zaintzen Zain / Who cares?
Putting people at the centre of public policy in the face of privatisation and precarious care
Caring for others who need care affects a large part of the population directly or indirectly. Furthermore, it is a service that almost everyone will need sooner or later. However, privatization and precariousness are threats that jeopardize the quality of care. So, are we building or destroying the public care system?
The “Zaintzen Zain – Who Cares?” conference, organized by the Alkartasuna and Coppieters foundations on Saturday 24th January 2026 in Bilbao, will attempt to answer that question. To this end, they have scheduled a free event, with simultaneous interpretation (EN<>ES<>EUS), open to anyone interested in the subject.
International experts and social agents will present their points of view from the perspective of social justice policies, placing people at the center of care from a feminist approach.
Program
24th January 2026
Welcome and introduction
Coppieters Foundation and Alkartasuna Fundazioa
Debate
To have or not to have a public and universal care system. That is the question. Introduction by Dr Kathleen Lynch, Emeritus Professor of Gender Studies at the University of Dublin and Commissioner for Human Rights and Equality in the Irish Government.
Speakers:
- ‘Towards a new UN convention: a human rights-based approach to care’. Nena Georgantzi, AGE Platform Europe and PhD from the University of Galway, Ireland.
- ‘The care system and its political implementation from a social justice perspective’. Tine Rostgaard, Professor in the Department of Social and Business Sciences at the University of Roskilde, Denmark.
- ‘The European Care System. A review of the European Care Strategy’. Dana-Carmen Bachman, Head of Unit for Social Rights and Inclusion at the European Commission.
Care from different perspectives
- Feminist movement: Denon Bizitzak Erdigunean Platform.
- Care cooperatives: Maitelan.
- Institutional: Arrasate Town Council and the ZainSare project.
- Academic: Ane Izagirre, researcher in sociology and social work, and member of the Parte Hartuz research team. ‘Universal care at stake. What does it mean?’
Conclusion and closing words
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Practicalities.
Dates and Time:
24th January 2026, 10:00 – 13:30
Venue:
Bizkaia Aretoa, Abandoibarra Etorb., 3, Abando, 48009 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
Language:
The event will be conducted in English, Spanish and Basque
Contact:
Media inquiries can be adressed to info@ideasforeurope.eu
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This event is a joint initiative between Alkartasuna Fundazioa and Coppieters Foundation.
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This event is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the event nor for the opinions of the speakers.
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