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Summary: Statement by Beth Fredrick, Executive Vice President, the International Women’s Health Coalition. Remarks for Congressional Briefing— Global Youth: A Strategic Investment. March 3, 2009

My task today is to connect the remarks of my colleagues on the panel to specific actions that the U.S. government can take to ensure the health and wellbeing of the world's young people.  As often is the case, I gained insight into the issue in the cab ride here.  The driver asked what I was doing with Congress today and I told him that I was asked to speak on what we owe the world's young people.  Without missing a beat, he said, "That's easy.  A clean environment, a good education and freedom."  It is that freedom that we are here to discuss with you today.  The freedom for young people to make informed, supported choices about their own lives.

As you have heard from the other speakers there are more than 1.5 billion people between the ages of 10 and 24 living in the world today, the largest generation ever.

How do we make these young people our allies?  How do we ensure their ability to contribute to global prosperity?  What can we learn from their inspiration?

We are at a historic moment.  Not only do we have the largest generation of youth, but young people's lives are increasingly shaped by a trend towards democracy and the rise of civil society, giving them increased opportunities to participate in local and national decision making. We have a new Congress and a new President committed to reenergizing U.S. leadership on human rights and restructuring foreign assistance to better serve those in need.  ...

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Summary: Delivered by Adrienne Germain, President, IWHC, at "AIDS in India," Asia Society, San Francisco, CA (5 pages).

by Beth Fredrick, Executive Vice President

Originally published by the Global Health Magazine.

All eyes will be on Barack Obama as he makes his inaugural address and in the early days of his administration. With foreign policy and women's issues front and center during election season, women around the world will be listening carefully to hear what commitments the new president will propose. Since they know the impact of U.S. policy firsthand, they will also be paying close attention to the reaction from Congress.