Civil society demands action on solidarity, equality, sustainability at G20 Social Summit

Transcript

00:00The mood was one of celebration and hope as thousands gathered at the G20 Social Summit

00:11in Johannesburg looking for change.

00:13We'd like to get some opportunities for our people.

00:17As you can understand, our people are so disadvantaged, so we need to work together with our government

00:24and to make sure our people do get these opportunities of empowering our people.

00:31The Social Summit being held for a second time within the G20 framework places a huge

00:36focus on women, youth and marginalized communities.

00:40The important thing with the Social Summit, as you can see, we have brought in civil society

00:45and many NGOs, really organizations that come from grassroots, representing people on the

00:55ground.

00:56So it's not just political parties.

00:58Much of the sentiment echoed the main G20 working groups calling for inclusion, equitable climate

01:03finance, greater technology, adoption and representation in global decision making.

01:09We would want all the international forums to have the youth representatives there and have

01:15investment in youth, for youth to also talk about the policies that are affecting their

01:19future and their present, their education and the world that we live in.

01:24Opportunities for young people, the skills development, youth empowerment and those initiatives

01:29need to be funded for and be enhanced towards changing communities.

01:35Some are also calling for greater unity as geopolitical tensions between South Africa and the United

01:41States escalate ahead of the summit.

01:43I hope I can speak on behalf of the global South, but I'd love to see all the G20 member

01:50states hold the U.S. responsible for making sure that our dreams and ambitions are protected.

02:00Civil society has spoken global solutions can't be shaped without the people they affect.

02:05Delegates here are pushing for fairer economies and real social justice as G20 leaders arrive in

02:11South Africa for the main summit.