Brazil Reaffirms Commitment To Combat Racism During G20 Rio Meeting

Brazilian authorities have reaffirmed their dedication to fighting racism and racial inequalities. These declarations were made during the G20 meetings in Rio de Janeiro, which continue until Friday (26th), as reported by Agência Brasil, a WAM partner. This marks the first time the Group of 20 has debated inequalities.

During the opening of the second session titled "Combating Inequalities and Trilateral Cooperation" at the Development Ministerial Meeting, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, emphasised Brazil's commitment to promoting ethnic-racial equality. He stated, "At a time when, unfortunately, we witness manifestations of racism and discrimination, including in sports, Brazil remains committed to promoting ethnic-racial equality, which is not only a noble objective but an imperative for building a more just and inclusive sustainable world."

Anielle Franco, Brazil’s Minister of Racial Equality, also participated in the discussion panel. She stressed that combating racism and other inequalities must be a global commitment. "We also know that solving a systemic, structural, and historical problem is not a task for a single ministry or even a single country," stated Anielle Franco. Her remarks received applause from heads of state and representatives of participating countries.

On Wednesday (24th), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took part in the pre-launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. This initiative is one of Brazil’s priorities during its G20 presidency. The minister of Racial Equality announced that the Agenda to Tackle Hunger and Poverty with a focus on black women will be officially launched on Thursday (25th). Anielle Franco revealed that this programme will include five major goals, 26 actions, and over AED216 million invested in public policies.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global agenda aimed at ending poverty and inequalities by 2030. These goals were agreed upon by 193 United Nations Member States. There are 17 SDGs in total. In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2023, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva proposed an additional national goal—SDG 18—to achieve ethnic-racial equality in Brazilian society.

Commitment to Combating Racism

The two Brazilian ministers underscored Brazil's dedication to addressing racism and racial inequalities. Their statements align with President Lula's announcement at the United Nations General Assembly about creating SDG 18 voluntarily. This goal focuses on achieving ethnic-racial equality within Brazilian society.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s schedule also includes a meeting with Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs on Wednesday.

The discussions at the G20 meetings highlight Brazil's ongoing efforts to address systemic issues related to racism and inequality both nationally and globally.

With inputs from WAM