The G20 Parliamentary Forum opened today (Wednesday, 6). Topics such as female representation and climate justice were highlighted in the debate sessions. The event serves as a preparatory act for the 10th G20 Parliamentary Speaker´s Summit (P20), hosted by the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies through Friday (8).

The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, presided over the forum’s opening. He received a document called the Charter of Alagoas from the leader of the Women’s Caucus in the Senate, Senator Leila Barros (PDT-DF), and the coordinator of the Women’s Caucus in the Chamber of Deputies, Deputy Benedita da Silva (PT-RJ). The document includes recommendations from the 1st Meeting of Women Parliamentarians of the P20, held in early July in Maceió (AL).

Among the recommendations in the charter are measures such as incorporating women’s rights into the policies and public budgets of G20 countries, expanding public funding to promote equality; denouncing political violence, with suggested actions to combat this practice; and adopting measures that recognize and value women’s unpaid care and domestic work.

“By connecting the Maceió meeting with this edition, we want its outcomes to help guide the debates in Brasília. The Charter of Alagoas aimed to reflect diversity and includes important and urgent demands that deserve the attention and priority of our parliaments,” stated Lira.

According to Lira, the global average of female representation in the Legislature is 25%. In P20 countries, this rate rises to 29%. In Brazil, however, representation in the federal Legislature is around 20%—which would be the highest percentage in history. Lira also celebrated the increase in the percentage of women elected as mayors, which rose from 16% to 18% in the most recent October elections. He stated that these results are encouraging and motivate the Chamber and Senate to continue approving projects that support female representation in politics.

“There’s no way to talk about fighting hunger, poverty, and inequality if we don’t make progress in promoting gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and overcoming racism. These are essential conditions for women to live with dignity and be free to occupy whatever spaces they wish,” noted Lira.

Priorities

Senator Leila Barros stated that the first P20 meeting marks an important advance in parliamentary diplomacy and reinforces the commitment to inclusive, fair, and sustainable global development. According to the senator, the meeting of women parliamentarians in Maceió highlighted key issues for promoting inclusion, with the final declaration identifying three priority areas: climate justice and sustainable development for women and girls; expanding female representation in decision-making spaces; and combating gender inequalities while promoting women’s economic empowerment.

Leila called for reflection on the challenges each country faces, such as poverty reduction and a sustainable climate transition. She noted that the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect women and the most vulnerable populations. In the senator’s view, the success of the forum will be measured by the ability of parliamentarians to transform the recommendations into practical solutions.
“This forum should be a space to promote policies that ensure equal access to employment, financial education, and social protection mechanisms, creating conditions for women to thrive economically,” stated Leila.

According to Deputy Benedita da Silva, without political representation, it becomes more difficult for women to secure their rights. She noted that the P20 offers an opportunity to discuss a fairer, more sustainable world, with dignified policies focused on gender equality. Deputy Maria do Rosário (PT-RS), the second secretary of the Chamber of Deputies’ Board, stated that the P20 meeting provides a chance to debate a fairer and more environmentally sustainable future. She called for an increase in parliamentary diplomacy to strengthen democracy and prevent setbacks.

“Democracy unites us in the pursuit of a better future,” concluded the deputy.

The president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Tulia Ackson, highlighted the legislative responsibility in policies that promote gender equality. Similarly, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Laura da Rocha, emphasized that reforming global governance entities should prioritize gender equality. She represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, at the forum.

Climate justice

The forum’s first working session, led by Deputy Maria do Rosário, focused on promoting climate justice and sustainable development from a gender and race perspective. Tulia Ackson pointed out that rural women are more vulnerable to climate change and food insecurity. According to Ackson, women in parliaments tend to be more attuned to these issues and thus break more barriers in the pursuit of climate justice policies.

Shri Harivansh, the Vice President of India’s Upper House, called for policies aimed at protecting poor people and children, noting that natural disasters often impact vulnerable populations more severely. Parliamentarians from Portugal and Russia also spoke, advocating for more comprehensive food policies, fewer pesticides, and increased focus on environmental sustainability.

According to Benedita da Silva, climate change is already a reality. The deputy stated that climate disasters disproportionately affect women, children, and the elderly. She emphasized that the global moment calls for urgent measures from parliamentarians to address the social, climate, and economic crises. Senator Leila Barros added that the climate crisis transcends borders but impacts vulnerable populations the most, underscoring the challenge of achieving climate justice.

“Building a just world and a sustainable planet should not be an obstacle to overcome. Instead, it should be the natural foundation of our actions and decisions,” argued Leila.

Representation

The expansion of female representation in decision-making spaces was the theme of the second working session, led by Senator Professora Dorinha Seabra (União-TO). The senator described the need for greater female representation in positions of power as “extremely urgent.” According to her, a legal framework is necessary to encourage the presence of women in decision-making environments.
“Political leadership needs to be accessible to women at all levels, especially in areas where representation has historically been low,” argued the senator, noting that there is currently no woman on the Senate’s Board.

The president of Canada’s Senate, Raymonde Gagné, reported that women make up 55% of the Senate and 30% of the House of Commons in Canada. She noted that despite this representation, women still face challenges within decision-making spaces. For the President of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe, Celmira Sacramento, greater female presence in decision-making spaces is essential for advancing toward a fairer world and a more equal future.

In the view of Deputy Soraya Santos (PL-RJ), gender balance in parliamentary representation is an urgent and essential issue. The President of Angola’s National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, called for more training programs to help women develop their leadership skills. Meanwhile, the President of the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur), Fabiana Martín, stated that a greater presence of women in parliaments leads to the approval of fairer laws for society as a whole.

Inequality

Senator Teresa Leitão (PT-PE) chaired the third debate session, which focused on tackling gender and racial inequality and promoting women’s economic empowerment. The senator stated that the challenge for G20 parliaments is to advance in implementing the forum’s recommendations, seeking measures that encourage women’s economic autonomy.

“A fairer and more sustainable world should drive our policies and our actions,” emphasized the senator.

Deputy Yandra Moura (União-SE) advocated for the importance of women holding leadership positions in their communities. She said that equal opportunities and wages are essential steps toward achieving gender equality. According to Senator Jussara Lima (PSD-PI), the discussion on women’s economic autonomy involves recognizing centuries of struggle for equality. She lamented that so many cases of gender violence still exist and stated that women in leadership roles are a positive force for society as a whole.

“Let’s join hands for a better Brazil and a better world. A woman’s place is wherever she wants it to be,” concluded the senator.

According to Christel Schaldemose, Vice President of the European Parliament, economic autonomy means freedom for women to choose their actions and their future. She acknowledged that most women around the world do not have this freedom and advocated for public policies that encourage women to start their own businesses and take on leadership roles. Deputy Liezl Linda Van der Merwe, a member of South Africa’s Lower House, highlighted some of her country’s public policies focused on women.

Alejandro Ismael Hinojosa, a member of Mexico’s Upper House, stated that the State has an obligation to ensure that girls and women live free from violence. He recognized that salary disparities between men and women persist and advocated for a gender-based approach in politics and justice. Portuguese Deputy Maria Emília Cerqueira emphasized that the world cannot ignore gender-based wage inequality. She noted that in her country, despite protective laws, many women are passed over for senior positions, which are often given to men.

“The path is made by walking. So, we want firm steps. We have the obligation to give our girls a new future,” she stated.

Bilateral Meetings

Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco did not participate directly in Wednesday’s forum. Instead, he held a series of bilateral meetings with the leaders of parliaments from countries such as India, Russia, Portugal, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. Pacheco also met with representatives from the European Parliament. The discussions focused on each country’s challenges and measures to strengthen inter-parliamentary relations.

The official opening ceremony of the summit will take place this Thursday (7) at 10:30, with President Pacheco presiding. The President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Luís Roberto Barroso, are expected to attend. The agenda also includes debates on the contribution of parliaments to the fight against hunger, poverty and inequality, as well as the role of parliaments in tackling the environmental crisis.

On Friday morning (8), a working session will be held to discuss the role of parliaments in building a global governance system adapted to the challenges of the 21st century. The closing session of the summit is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

Senate News Agency