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Childhood and Vulnerability:. Compounding Risk During Crises. The Global Economic Crisis – Including Children in the Policy Response Hosted by UNICEF and ODI London, November 10, 2009 Dr. Jody Heymann, MD, PhD Founding Director, Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University.
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Childhood and Vulnerability: Compounding Risk During Crises The Global Economic Crisis – Including Children in the Policy Response Hosted by UNICEF and ODI London, November 10, 2009 Dr. Jody Heymann, MD, PhD Founding Director, Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University
Families in Crisis • In the wake of the world’s financial crisis, the children of working parents are more vulnerable than ever. • Economic instability has made job protection especially vital to working adults when they need to take leave. • As many families confront the loss of income and assets, the protection of wages during leave is also crucial. • Both job and income protection are especially important to working adults in poor health, as well as those caring for young children.
Raising the Global Floor Dismantling the Myth that We Can’t Afford Good Working Conditions for Everyone Jody Heymann and Alison Earle http://www.raisingtheglobalfloor.org November 17, 2009
Paid leave for new mothers • There is widespread global consensus on paid leave for new mothers. • The health and developmental outcomes of children are improved when mothers can take time off after childbirth or adoption. • When maternity leave is unpaid, many women cannot afford to take this time off to care for their new child.
Paid leave for new fathers • Far fewer nations have guaranteed paid leave for new fathers. • Leave for new fathers improves gender equity in the workplace and at home; has positive health benefits for mothers, such as decreased rates of depression; and increases opportunities for father-infant bonding.
Breastfeeding breaks at work • The benefits of breastfeeding include a 1.5- to 5-fold lower risk of mortality; accelerated neurocognitive development of infants; as well as health benefits for mothers. • When breastfeeding breaks at work are not permitted, and paid maternity leave is limited or non-existent, mothers are forced to stop breastfeeding earlier than the 6 months often recommended by the WHO.
Leave for children’s health needs • Parents who have paid sick days are five times as likely to be able to care for sick children themselves as those who don’t. • Parental involvement has been shown to improve and hasten children’s recovery from illnesses and injuries.
Informal Economy • Informal sector employment accounts for 50-75% of all non-agricultural employment in developing countries 48% 65% 51% 72% Estimates from ILO, Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture (Geneva: ILO 2002)
