Children participate in G20 for the first time, calling for action on hunger, poverty and climate change

RIO DE JANEIRO, 13 November 2024 – Three adolescents from Brazil will be representing over 50,000 children from 60 countries at the G20 Summit in Brazil for the first time in its 25-year history, making a historic moment for children’s participation in global governance.

The teenagers – aged 16 and 17 years old – will deliver a letter to G20 leaders during the G20 Social Summit on 14 November, which includes messages from children around the world. The letter is the outcome of a global consultation with children and adolescents and includes their recommendations to leaders on how to promote children’s participation in global decision-making, including in climate decisions, decisions to address hunger and poverty, and mechanisms to achieve economic equity and fair investments.

Cristina García, Regional Director of Save the Children Latin America and the Caribbean, says:

“Save the Children has been advocating for a formal space for children’s participation in the G20 process for years, as it is the main forum for international economic cooperation across 20 of the world’s largest economies. For the first time, girls, boys, and adolescents will have a direct voice through an unprecedented platform to raise their concerns and priorities directly to global leaders”.

Over 50,000 children and adolescents from 60 countries participated in the global consultation, led by Save the Children and Plan International Brazil, in partnership with Joining Forces, Movimiento Mundial por la Infancia (MMI-LAC) and Children in G20. The consultation gathered the main concerns and priorities for children around climate change, fair financing, just economies, hunger and poverty, reform of global governance, and gender and racial equality.

Julia, 17, from Brazil, will be at the G20 Social Summit in Brazil. She contributed to the letter and will deliver it to world leaders. She said:

“We are children and adolescents from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other parts of the world, sharing our main concerns for the present and future. We want G20 leaders to work for ensuring just economies that tackle inequalities and an environment where we can fully develop and realize our dreams.”

Ynara, 17, from Brazil, will also be at the G20 Social Summit and contributed to the letter. She said:

“We need to be heard. We want the recommendations we made with thousands of children around the world to be implemented by G20 leaders.”

Both Julia and Ynara participate in projects implemented by the Center for Defense of Children and Adolescents (CEDECA-RJ), Save the Children’s partner organization in Brazil. As part of the G20 Social Summit’s official agenda, the adolescents will also moderate the high-level event “G20 and the Rights of Children and Adolescents,” organized by Save the Children and Plan International. At the event,cChildren, ministers, G20 Sherpas, and civil society representatives will discuss children’s recommendations on G20 priorities based on the global consultation and the Children in G20 Policy Pack [1].

Rotimy Djossaya, Save the Children’s Executive Director of Global Policy, Advocacy, and Campaigns, says:

“Children must always be considered and included in high-level decision-making processes because they have unique needs and perspectives, and the decisions by leaders will directly impact their futures.

“By delivering this advocacy letter on the main stage of the G20 Social Summit, children will take a bold step into the global spotlight, emphasizing the need for world leaders to take their rights, well-being, and future seriously in decision-making processes. This moment is set to inspire further child participation in future G20 Summits”.

“Together, we are creating opportunities for children to participate directly in shaping the policies that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard at the highest levels of global governance”.

Save the Children has worked with Children in G20, a coalition of 20 Brazilian and international organizations dedicated to integrating the rights and well-being of children and adolescents into the G20 agenda.

Save the Children has been advocating with counterparts in South Africa, where the next G20 will take place in 2025, to create a working group dedicated to children in the G20 Civil Society Engagement Group (C20) or for an Engagement Group dedicated to children and adolescents.

ENDS

[1] The Children in G20 policy pack has been produced by the ‘Children in G20’ initiative under the leadership of the Alana Institute calls for G20 leaders to prioritize children’s rights, including their meaningful participation, in global governance reform. It covers recommendations on the following areas: hunger and poverty, a fair and inclusive economy, climate change and just energy transition, mental health and culture, education, and gender equality

*******************************************************************************************************************

For further enquiries please contact:

• Maria Gabriela Alvarado maria.alvarado@savethechildren.org

Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409

Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.