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G20 Engagement Groups: Statement for Open and Inclusive Societies

G20 foreign ministers to fight go-it-alone strategies and strengthen cooperation

Over decades, the international community has been growing closer together and increasingly interdependent. This has benefited many, both in terms of human development and economic growth. Today, however, the international community faces a multitude of challenges. These include diverse social and economic dynamics, inacceptable inequality within and among many countries, climate change, terrorism, and interstate conflicts. In a number of countries, proponents of isolation and go-it-alone strategies have gained certain prominence. They advocate turning their backs on value-based international cooperation and effective multilateralism.

We, the Chairs of the G20 Engagement Partners, ask G20 leaders and their governments to respond to these trends, address their root causes, and restate the benefits of, and need for, active and consistent co-operation and engagement across and between countries. Today’s challenges are global in nature and require coordinated solutions. Active cooperation is needed more than ever to find solutions in a globalized environment. We therefore welcome the meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers under the German G20 Presidency.

We share the belief that open and inclusive societies are the basis for a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous future. Open, tolerant and inclusive societies cannot thrive if excessive inequality is not addressed. Our societies need to be defined by the respect for human rights, freedom of speech, association, assembly, and the treatment of people irrespective of their creed or ethnicity. Open, tolerant and inclusive societies are responsive, transparent and flexible in nature. They value respect for other beliefs and opinions, promote gender equality, and show acceptance of minority groups to foster engagement across societies. We call on the G20 to support these common values at home and in their relations abroad.

Many of today’s achievements – not least the Paris Climate Agreement and the Agenda 2030 – would not have been possible without the active engagement of civil society. We collectively urge the G20 and all its members to work by these principles and engage respectively with other countries.

We also call upon the G20 to work towards an open international trading system promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development, and to ensure that the gains from globalization are distributed widely and fairly through society, helping to secure the livelihoods of everybody. The achievements of the last 50 years, particularly in the advancement of many countries – such as China and India – and the movement of a billion people out of poverty, are evidence of positive impacts of globalization. However, globalization also has negative impacts and needs to be governed in order to advance economic and social welfare aiming at inclusive and stable societies. At home, G20 members need to develop inclusive, future-oriented economic strategies, placing an emphasis on education, skills development, and life-long learning. Globally, we need well-defined multilateral rules and well-functioning multilateral organizations. Support for multilateral organizations has been eroding. We urge the G20 to redouble its efforts in strengthening the multilateral architecture.

The G20 continues to be an important forum to shape inclusive globalization that offers fair opportunities worldwide. We welcome that G20 Germany conducts a pluralistic outreach process and look forward to see its impacts manifested in policy decisions.


About the G20

The G20 is an important forum for international economic cooperation. Within the G20, 19 leading industrial and emerging economies as well as the European Union coordinate their policies and agree on joint actions and principles. The G20 is increasingly turning into a center pillar of global governance. The G20 members combined hold more than 85 percent of the global economic output, more than 80 percent of global goods and services exports and represent about two thirds of the global population.

G20 Engagement Groups

G20 Germany holds dialogue forums with business (Business20), civil society organizations (Civil20), trade unions (Labour20), the scientific and research community (Science20), think tanks (Think20), women (Women20), and youth (Youth20). The dialogue forums pick up on
pertinent G20 issues and work with international partners to draw up recommendations for the German Presidency.

Engagement Groups

Business20:
Chair: Dr. Jürgen Heraeus
Organizing Groups: Federation of German Industries (BDI) Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industries (DIHK) Confederation of German Employers (BDA)

Civil20:
Co-Chair: Dr. Bernd Bornhorst
Co-Chair: Jürgen Maier
Organizing Groups: Association of German Development Humanitarian Aid NGOs (VENRO) German NGO Forum on Environment and Development Labour20: Chair: Reiner Hoffmann
Organizing Group: German Trade Union Confederation (DGB)

Science20:
Chair: Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker
Organizing Group: German National Academy of Sciences

Think20:
Co-Chair: Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner
Co-Chair: Prof. Dennis Snower
Organizing Groups: German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW)

Women20:
Co-Chair: Stephanie Bschorr
Co-Chair: Mona Küppers
Organizing Groups: Association of German Women Entrepreneurs (VdU) National Council of German Women's Organizations (DF)

Document G20 Engagement Groups_Statement for Open and Inclusive Societies

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Kontakt:

Juliane Rosin, Leitung Women 20
c/o Deutscher Frauenrat
Tel: +49 30 204569-19
Fax: +49 30 204569-44
juliane.rosin(at)w20-germany.org

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