By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa will take up the effort to strengthen and reform the multilateral system to effectively respond to global realities – and to ensure that no country is left behind and no one is left behind.
SA assumes the rotational presidency of the G20 on December 1, taking over from Brazil, which has pushed for measures to reform global governance.
Ramaphosa delivered South Africa’s Statement on Working Session II: Reform of Global Governance Institutions, G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
He thanked world leaders for ensuring that the reform of the global governance institutions takes centre stage during the G20 Summit.
“The reform of these institutions is more urgent now than ever before, and I believe that we all agree that for world governance to go forward these institutions must be reformed. Our discussions here today demonstrate a shared global will to address current and future global challenges.”
The world faces many challenges that pose a danger to global peace and justice. They pose a danger to the very existence of this very precious planet that we share. These challenges include soaring global temperatures, rising inequality between nations and people, and escalating geopolitical tensions in areas such as Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, among others,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa said in order to address these challenges, there needs to be more robust multilateralism and a ‘renewed commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.”
“The UN Charter calls for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The principle of self-determination is also enshrined in the Charter.
“The people of Palestine have been denied their right to self-determination and are under the yoke of a brutal and violent occupation. As the G20 collective, we need to add our voices to ensure that the carnage that is taking place in Gaza is ended and that we work towards a just and lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis, “Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa stressed the importance of respecting the UN Charter.
“All member states must comply with its principles and with international law. There can be no exceptions and no country is immune from these obligations. We are all bound by the same rules.
“There is a need to both strengthen and reform multilateral mechanisms and institutions to address the challenges that the world faces, “Ramaphosa said.
Meanwhile the summit produced a joint declaration on Monday that, while not totally endorsed by one of the group’s members, succeeded in addressing most topics host Brazil had prioritized addressing: both ongoing major wars, a global pact to fight hunger, taxation of the world’s wealthiest people and changes to global governance.
The G20 declaration referred to the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza and the escalation in Lebanon,” and stressed the urgent need to expand humanitarian assistance and reinforce protection of civilians.
“Affirming the Palestinian right to self-determination, we reiterate our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution where Israel and a Palestinian State live side by side in peace, “it said.
But it made no mention of Israel’s suffering or some 100 hostages that remain in Hamas captivity. Israel isn’t a G20 member.
That lack of acknowledgment appeared to run contrary to U.S. President Joe Biden’s consistent backing of Israel’s right to defend itself. It’s something Biden dutifully notes in public, even when speaking about the deprivation of Palestinians caused by the grinding war. During a meeting with G20 leaders before the declaration was hammered home, Biden expressed his view that Hamas is solely to blame for the war and called on fellow leaders to “increase the pressure on Hamas” to accept a cease-fire deal.
Looming large on Monday was news of Biden’s decision to ease restrictions on Ukraine’s use of longer-range U.S. missiles to allow that country to strike more deeply inside Russia.
“The United States strongly supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Everyone around this table in my view should, as well,” Biden said during the summit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is the summit’s most notable absentee. The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant that obliges member states to arrest him, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended instead.
The G20 declaration highlighted the human suffering in Ukraine while calling for peace, but without naming Russia.