In symbolic finale to the G20 Social Summit, a collective declaration representing the voices of workers, civil society, youth, women, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable communities across the globe, was formally handed over to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The declaration was delivered on stage by South Africa’s young leaders at the Summit that was held at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre on Thursday.
The declaration was read by Amogelang Mashele, President of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament and a prominent advocate in the Children20 (C20) initiative.
Moments earlier, dozens of children joined hands in song led by gospel artist Lebo Sekgobela, setting a deeply moving scene that underscored what the President has described as possibly the best of all the G20 summits to be held.
READ | President Ramaphosa hails G20 Social Summit as ‘possibly the best of all G20 summits’
After receiving the declaration, President Ramaphosa embraced the children and took photographs with them, calling the moment a powerful expression of what he has repeatedly emphasised throughout the summit; inclusiveness, shared leadership, and people-centred participation.
The declaration, representing outcomes of over 230 community dialogues held nationwide as part of South Africa’s “People’s G20,” outlines the collective global priorities for a fairer, more inclusive multilateral order.
Guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu “I am because we are” the declaration calls for digital inclusion for all.
In the declaration, delegates demand affordable and equitable access to digital infrastructure, universal digital literacy, and human-centred governance of artificial intelligence. The declaration stresses stronger online safety measures and the protection of children, women, and vulnerable groups from digital harm.
The declaration also calls for a fair and inclusive trade, resilience, and inclusive value chains.
“The rise of protectionism and increased volatility in global markets threaten the stability of multilateral trade, placing additional pressure on economies that are least equipped to absorb such disruptions.
“We affirm that diversification of products, markets, and supply sources strengthens resilience; however, resilience alone is insufficient to ensure that trade works for all. We underscore the importance of transparent, predictable, and responsive trade governance systems that enable swift adaptation to shocks and structural changes,” the declaration read.
The declaration also emphasised that the G20 has a critical role in restoring confidence in global trade and ensuring that the benefits of production networks and supply chains are shared equitably.
It also called for climate justice, and a people centred Just Transition. With global warming threatening to exceed 2.5°C, delegates emphasised the need for climate action that balances ambition with justice.
The declaration calls for:
• A people centred Just Transition.
• A Just Transition Facility providing grants and concessional finance.
• Debt relief mechanisms linked to climate action.
• Universal access to affordable, clean energy by 2030; and
• urgent action to eliminate pollution damaging ecosystems and human health.
The delegates also called for the reformation of the global financial architecture. The declaration highlights the inequities embedded in current global financial rules that disproportionately burden developing countries. It calls for reforms to credit rating systems, International Monetary Fund (IMF) frameworks, and Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation models, alongside innovative tools such as century loans, strengthened sovereign wealth collaboration and expanded access to long-term, inclusive development finance.
The acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) also formed part of the declaration. Noting that only 18% of SDG targets are on track, delegates call for transparent national reporting, ethical governance, and innovative financing models to close the SDG investment gap.
The declaration emphasises that development must be judged not only by growth, but by dignity, equality, opportunity, and the well-being of people and the planet.
Legacy
The declaration concludes with the announcement of G20 Social Summit Legacy Projects, designed to institutionalise people-centred participation and ensure that the voices amplified under South Africa’s Presidency remain embedded in future global decision-making.
President Ramaphosa who delivered the closing address at the Summit, praised the declaration, saying the Social Summit succeeded in giving people across all communities a platform to speak for themselves, rather than be spoken for. – SAnews.gov.za
