The G20 Social Preparatory Meeting presents proposals for reform in global governance, emphasizing the need to include marginalized voices and communities in international decision-making processes.
During the preparatory meeting of the G20 Social Summit, held on the 20th in Rio de Janeiro, representatives of civil society, governments, and academia discussed proposals for global governance reform, one of the priorities of the Brazilian presidency of the G20. The debate explored topics such as social participation, economic justice, national sovereignty, and the inclusion of marginalized voices in international decision-making processes.
The meeting discussed ideas and proposals that will be made available on the Brasil Participatory platform, which allows contributions from civil society organizations, social movements and citizens from around the world. The discussions reflect an understanding of complex global dynamics and the need for fairer and more representative structures.
Felipe Hees, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, began the debate by highlighting the saturation and inoperability of current international governance structures, particularly within the United Nations (UN). "The existing international agreements lack legitimacy and effectiveness in their application, compromising their functioning and the global trust placed in them," he said. He emphasized the G20's role as a conduit for political momentum, able to promote concrete actions and urge UN members to engage in meaningful reform.
Tatiana Berringer, G20 Social coordinator in the G20 Finance Trail, pointed out the structural discrepancies in global financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. "It is essential to rethink the quotas and the representativeness of the Global South in these institutions. The low participation of women and developing countries in decision-making processes reinforces historical inequalities", said Berringer.
Complementing this view, Tatiana Berringer, G20 Social coordinator in the G20 Finance Trail, pointed out the structural discrepancies in global financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. "It is essential to rethink the quotas and the representativeness of the Global South in these institutions. The low participation of women and developing countries in decision-making processes reinforces historical inequalities", said Berringer. She proposed building a roadmap to make national development banks more effective, as well as exploring new ways of raising funds, such as international taxation and the strengthening of green and climate funds.
Nathalie Beghin, from the Institute of Socioeconomic Studies (Inesc), emphasized the importance of international tax reform. "The resources exist, but they are poorly distributed. Estimates show that billions of dollars fail to be collected annually due to failures in the global tax system", Beghin explained. She defended the transfer of tax negotiations from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to the UN, aiming at more inclusive and beneficial processes for countries in the Global South.
Inclusion of peripheral voices and popular participation
The importance of including traditionally marginalized communities in global governance processes was a central point of discussion. Renê Silva, the representative of the Voice of Communities (Voz das Comunidades) and from Favelas 20 (F20), highlighted the urgent need to incorporate the perspectives of favelas and peripheries communities into global debates. "More than a billion people live in favelas around the world. It is crucial that these voices are heard to reduce inequalities and promote sustainable development", said Silva. He mentioned initiatives such as the preparation of letters of recommendation and face-to-face meetings to ensure that the needs of these communities are considered in government policies.
Preto Zezé, from the Unified Center of the Favelas (CUFA), pointed out that progressive leaders are distancing themselves from the popular base, resulting in an alarming disconnect between the agendas of the population and the government. He stressed that representation is only effective when accompanied by budgetary resources and that legal security is essential for public policies to continue, regardless of management changes, ensuring that communities are not left helpless.
"More than a billion people live in favelas around the world. It is crucial that these voices are heard to reduce inequalities and promote sustainable development", said Silva. He mentioned initiatives such as the preparation of letters of recommendation and face-to-face meetings to ensure that the needs of these communities are considered in government policies.
Marcel Fukuyama, from the Council for Economic and Social Development (CDES), proposed implementing a distributed governance model and unifying debates around a new economic paradigm aligned with planetary limits and social responsibility. "Brasil can be a great protagonist in promoting a new order of economic governance that prioritizes social and environmental justice," said Fukuyama.
