“We call for attention and actions- social protection is a human right and it goes beyond cash transfer,” said Ms Sandra Rodriguez, head of protocol section, Cuba Young Communist League.

The youth in their presentations said social protection is a human right and needs to be expanded beyond economic options so that citizens enjoy livelihoods as employment opportunities and other social and cultural rights in addition to rights to education, health care, shelter and women’s rights.

“Women friendly social protection packages are a must to ensure women’s access to social justice. Budgets for social protection need to be allocated. We demand that at least 6% of national GDP is allocated and spent for ensuring people’s right to education and 3% of GDP is used for health care,” said Ms. Evelyn Wanjiku, Kwacha Africa (Kenya).

The youth leaders called upon donors to ensure that nation states have full sovereignty in their policies on social protection and promote people’s participation in designing, implementing and monitoring the programmes on social protection.

Civil society, workers’ movements, trade unions, informal sector workers, both rural and urban rights holders, can play a key role in demanding the state to develop and implement effective policies. They should be actively involved in realizing their delivery. Youth are usually forgotten in the process. The youth leaders expressed their desire to have a more active role in ensuring social protection, both as beneficiaries and as agents of change.

Before converging in Hanoi youth representatives from all participating countries have gone through an extensive process of researching and analyzing poverty reduction policies and situation in their respective countries, focusing on social protection as a human right and fundamental role by state in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling it for all citizens. ‘Knowledge Initiative’, an independent think-tank of ActionAid, technically supported the research process.

This meeting is a part of South – South People’s Solidarity Platform, where progressive people’s movements, academia, activists come together to demand for chance and act for change, towards a life of people with dignity.

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Notes to editors:  

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in 50 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together.  For more information, please visit: www.actionaid.org.

The Declaration from the South-South People’s Solidarity Youth Exchange Meeting on Poverty Reduction and Social Protection will be available at the end of the Meeting, on June 5, 2009 at 17:00 pm by registering through email address: thao.hoangphuong@actionaid.org before 5/6/09.

Read the Press Release here Press Release Opening final.doc