Civil Summit held in Russia

Civil Summit held in Russia

News (International)

Over 350 representatives of civil society, international organisations, business and media have met in Moscow this week at the concluding event of the civil track under Russia’s official G20 presidency.

Civil 20 Summit’s main objective is a productive dialogue between global civil society, politicians and decision-makers on the basis of the priorities stated in the official agenda of the Russian presidency.

In December 2012, a conference entitled “Civil Society’s Vision to the Russian G20 Presidency” was held. Following this, seven working groups worked on proposals covering: environmental sustainability and energy, anti-corruption, international financial architecture, jobs and employment matters, financial inclusion and financial education, food security, post-2015 development agenda.

To involve the public in the development of proposals a crowdsourcing online platform Civil20 – Dialogues has helped working groups to collect suggestions from international civil society, share documents, and vote for the recommendations proposed. Over a thousand people participated.

The recommendations include:

Environmental Sustainability and Energy

The G20 should boost positive trends in the areas of energy efficiency and diversification of energy sources through the gradual elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, refusal to subsidise the construction of nuclear power plants and large hydropower stations, and by introducing additional measures to support renewable energy and technologies.

Anti-Corruption

The establishment of an information exchange about corruption between government authorities and civil institutions will enhance effectiveness in the fight against corruption.

Global Financial Architecture

A new financial architecture should be established, involving the harmonisation and coordination of resource use and the plans of various states. This should also include corporations and all investors from private individuals to capital markets and sovereign wealth funds. Access to financing should become a strategic goal for the new financial architecture. An international financing system should work for the benefit of the people and the planet as a whole.

Jobs and Employment

Global standards of knowledge and professional qualifications could contribute to the mobility of the workforce and equality of living standards, reducing social tensions and ensuring job security during times of crises and recessions.

Financial Inclusion and Financial Education

The Civil 20 believes that broad access to financing should become the main goal of the new global financial architecture. A faction of civil society believes that the financial sector should make larger investments to social development, including through a tax on financial transactions. Particular attention should be given to programs of mutual learning and exchanging of practical experience between government agencies, consumer organisations, small businesses, and young entrepreneurs.

Food Security

Developing a long-term strategy for food security should aim to stabilise the most vulnerable segments of the population and support the agro sector, especially for smallholder farmers.

Post-2015 Millennium Development Goals

Civil society should support the multilateral efforts of the UN in reaching its Millennium Development Goals and the consultation process in framing a new development agenda for post-2015. The role of the G20 as the largest economic forum could be in drawing up economic measures and financial mechanisms that assist in achieving these goals. The Seoul Multi-Year Action Plan should be reviewed and updated.

For more information on the work of the Civil20 and the Civil20 Summit: http://www.g20civil.com/.

Information about the Civil20 – Dialogues platform: http://dialogues.civil20.org/.

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