A 10th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) concluded this Friday (8) at the National Congress with calls to address multidimensional global challenges. Participants emphasized key priorities, including social and economic inequalities linked to the rise of hunger and poverty, the climate crisis, sustainable development, conflict resolution, and the creation of governance frameworks adapted to the 21st century.

At the closing ceremony, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, stated that the Brazilian Parliament had made its best efforts to strengthen the P20 as a key component within the G20 (a group comprising the 19 largest economies in the world, along with the African Union and the European Union). The G20 Summit will take place on November 18 and 19 in Rio de Janeiro.
“The Parliament is, by definition, a forum for societal discussions, and the union of Parliaments could only serve as a stage for significant debates on global problems and challenges. The G20, by bringing together the world’s largest economies, is a highly qualified space to generate and disseminate ideas and actions that can positively impact people’s lives. It is clear that the P20 can and should make a valuable contribution to the G20 in addressing global issues, bringing Parliaments closer to decision-making processes, and thereby facilitating the implementation of agreements within each country,” stated Lira.

The deputy also highlighted that parliamentary diplomacy has been gaining increasing relevance in bilateral, regional, and multilateral engagements.

“The growing importance of dialogue is evident, especially in a context of geopolitical balance marked by volatility,” he concluded.

Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco did not participate in the closing session due to the passing of his father, Helio Cota Pacheco, early Friday morning.

Declaration

During the closing ceremony, the participants of the P20 endorsed and adopted the joint declaration titled “Parliaments for a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.” Only Argentina abstained from signing the document.

The declaration, which will be presented at the G20 Summit to representatives of the world’s largest economies, reaffirms the essential role of legislatures in “promoting international cooperation and multilateralism through parliamentary diplomacy and all stages of public policymaking, including drafting, legitimizing, financing, implementing, and oversight.”

The document highlights critical concerns, such as combating hunger, poverty, and inequality on a global scale; ensuring just and inclusive transitions towards sustainable development; and fostering equitable and representative global governance. It also addresses key points, including the reform of United Nations (UN) bodies and the promotion of standardized use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Arthur Lira also emphasized that some participants shared their views on geopolitical issues, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. He renewed the call for all parliaments to engage in promoting peace, with a particular focus on protecting the lives of innocent civilians.

“The Presidency underscores and appreciates the constructive spirit shown by all participants during the consultation process, even on the most complex issues,” he added.
Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), stated that there should be no shortage of means to address social problems, emphasizing that parliamentarians must lead efforts to address these challenges. She also highlighted that the P20 placed women at the center of attention, leading to agreements on gender equality and the fight against gender-based violence.
“Despite our differences, we managed to come together here and reach a consensus on a joint declaration, contributing to the construction of a more inclusive and representative global governance,” concluded the IPU president.

New Presidency

Lira symbolically handed over the P20 presidency to Annelie Lotriet, Vice-President of South Africa’s National Assembly. The African nation will host the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit in 2025.
“South Africa’s 2025 presidency has a theme centered on engagement, solidarity, equality, and sustainable development. This theme reflects our nation’s undeniable commitment to robust multilateralism, with the United Nations as its foundation. By strengthening international cooperation and establishing rules of engagement among nations, we can achieve solidarity, peace, equality, human rights, and development for all,” said Lotriet.

The Brazilian P20 presidency included hosting the 1st Meeting of Women Parliamentarians of the P20, held in Maceió (AL) in July this year. The event concluded with the Charter of Alagoas, which was annexed to the P20 joint declaration. Among other issues, the Charter highlights the importance of gender equality. This agenda was also discussed on Wednesday (6) during the G20 Parliamentary Forum, hosted by the National Congress as a prelude to the P20 Summit.

Debates

On Friday, the third and final working session of the P20 was held under the theme “Parliamentarians in Building Global Governance Adapted to the Challenges of the 21st Century.” Opening the session, Arthur Lira stated that the international system is facing a “multifaceted” crisis in geopolitical, economic, and environmental spheres.

According to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, addressing systemic challenges effectively and productively requires reforming global governance institutions and mechanisms to increase their representativeness, legitimacy, and functionality.

“[We advocate] for the reform of the United Nations, particularly its Security Council, to promote sustainable, fair, and inclusive development. Similarly, the institutions of the international financial system, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, must enhance their decision-making processes and engage in tackling inequalities and transitioning toward sustainability. These financing mechanisms should be directed to promote social and economic progress, with environmental commitment and attention to national imbalances and contexts,” he stated.
Numan Kurtulmus, President of the Grand National Assembly (Parliament of Turkey), stated that a new global governance framework for the 21st century must be built.

“The first step is to restructure international organizations to establish a fairer global architecture. The current world system only concerns itself with the rights and interests of the powerful. We need a paradigm shift, and the first prerequisite is to ensure safeguards for those who are weak,” he said.

Celmira Sacramento, President of the National Assembly (Parliament of São Tomé and Príncipe), emphasized that managing international affairs is an essential means to ensure plurality.
“We have a unique opportunity to transform the way we govern, and in this context, we as parliamentarians have a role to play. We must strengthen international cooperation, working side by side with both developed and developing countries to maximize the benefits of progress and ensure no one is left behind. It is equally important for our parliaments to embrace new perspectives on governance, given that the world we live in is not homogeneous. A truly effective international regime represents the diversity of experiences and the needs of all its members, and we must reject unilateral practices that perpetuate inequalities.”

Christel Schaldemose, Vice-President of the European Parliament, stated that the solution to existing problems is not to dismantle structures or render them irrelevant, but rather to repurpose and recycle multilateral forums, reducing bureaucracy.

“We need to reinvigorate multilateralism, making it more accountable and resilient. We need to connect with citizens,” she concluded.

Blanca Margarita Ovelar de Duarte, President of ParlAmericas, emphasized the importance of G20 countries investing in science and productive applications, which can be an important factor in fighting inequality. ParlAmericas is an organization that promotes parliamentary diplomacy among the legislatures of the America.

“Scientific research, industrialization, and artificial intelligence must be seen as tools to promote development and also as mechanisms to reduce inequality among nations,” she stated.