The economic crisis and the health of young people

1
The economic crisis and the health of young people

• Irene Donadio
• IPPFEN Advocacy Officer
• July 10, 2009

2
The economic crises is an opportunity to reform
the system and invest in YP health

• Systemic problem caused by an unsustainable
  financial system, predatory behaviour and the
  absence of codes of conduct
• Enormous sums of tax payers money poured into
  the banking system
• Who is responsible for the crises and its
  resolution? Who is accountable? Who can do
  something to improve the situation?

3
What do we need now?

• A new culture of responsibility
• Restore confidence
• Recognise that we have the power to make positive
  changes
• Address the democratic challenge

4
Who will pay for the health of young people?

• Cut /lack of increase in health budget impact
  on services and your health in the future
  (prevention e.g. SRHR and advocacy)
• Cuts in the education system impact skills and
  job
• Prolonged precarious labour increasing
  unemployment impacts entitlement to social
  security and therefore health coverage

5
The crises, human rights and democracy the right
to health for all

• Avoid increasing poverty and marginalisation,
  social unrest, xenophobia and the erosion of
  democracy
• Economic and social rights have not been defined
  in a vacuum. They are based on the experience of
  past crises and on the knowledge that ignoring
  social justice bears an enormous cost
• Enabling all people to enjoy equal access to
  their social rights an especially health, must
  now be priority number one

6
Complex problems need complex solutions but there
is hope

• Different models of ethical and socially
  responsible economic behaviour e.g. coops, social
  enterprises, fair trade actors, ethical banks,
  saving banks and ethical consumerism
• Keynes lessons
• We need your help and your thoughts!

7
Count on Young People

• Trust young people because you are smart,
  creative, articulated and well informed
• Exercise your rights to participate in policy
  making and demand accountability and good
  governance.
• The internet era is changing the world and
  providing new opportunities of activism and
  learning. Young people are great at networking
  and networks are better at learning and adapting
  to challenges.

8
Food for thought to develop a more ethical and
fair society

• Rules to regulate the financial markets
• Investment in social and health policies. (job
  creation, new social demands, long lasting
  progress).
• Press banks to support social and ethical
  projects and responsible entrepreneurship,
  facilitate access to credit for SME and mortgage
  dialogue for families.
• Review the fiscal system and base it on social
  justice.
• Support access of YP to the labour market,
  housing/mortgages and health care

9

• THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION