This year, the UK has the presidency of the G7, and many decisions that have an impact across the world will be made by the seven economic and political powers in June 2021. We believe it is paramount for civil society to be part of these decisions and to freely express their perspectives, ideas, concerns, and points of view, and we are very proud that our local and national members took part in the Civil Society 7 Summit hosted by the UK government and Bond. Our local and national members engaged in conversations and roundtables, discussing and making recommendations on seven priorities.
You can find the civil society's recommendations to the G7 here
Tirtha Prasad Saikia, NEADS
We are privileged to participate in Civil Society 7 and influence the transformative agenda for the G7 summit on urgent civil society issues as G7 nations are significant for establishing a truly transformative agenda that inspire global actions to address our most pressing challenges. We would like to recommend G7 to take strategic policy in establishing a global humanitarian financing system that is locally driven, risk-informed, needs-based and increasingly focused on reducing risk, anticipating and acting ahead of predictable crises.
Shaikh Maaz Tanveer, HANDS
C7 summit is a much-needed platform for the representation of civil society’s voice from around the world and given the ongoing pandemic it couldn’t have come at a better time. With the issue of shrinking civil society space in the global south especially in Pakistan, my recommendation to G7 was to promote policies which ease the functionality of CSOs keeping in line with the theme of localization and development through grassroots. Furthermore, with respect to the climate crisis, I emphasized the importance of an increase in climate financing from the G7 especially to the most affected countries in the global south with the local organizations and communities taken onboard in decision making for climate adaptation measures. I hope that all of these important measures will be impactful through the communique and policy measures taken by the G7 will reflect that.
Anuarite Kabuo, MIDEFEHOPS ASBL
We were fortunate to have been selected as a participant in the G7 Civil Society Summit held in the United Kingdom from 19-20 April 2021. During these two days, we had an opportunity to share with the other participants the following elements
- Education: Increase funding for the education programme to facilitate inclusive and equitable education, with all girls and boys in school through the promotion of formal and non-formal education to facilitate those who are already falling behind, The G7 should advocate with governments of developing countries to make primary school free of charge to enable vulnerable children from poor families to attend, and to establish peace in conflict areas to enable children to study without much stress.
- Health: provide health care workers with the necessary capacities to respond effectively to the problems of epidemics and pandemics, support programmes for the creation of mutual health insurance in African countries to facilitate access to primary health care for all, provide support for activities to prevent covid19, which is an aggravating factor in the health situation in the world;
- Food security and nutrition: Provide effective responses to food crisis situations downstream rather than upstream to prevent chronic diseases related to malnutrition in the world;
- Access to livelihoods: Support the sustainable development programme with the strengthening of agriculture, livestock breeding and vocational training for young people who take refuge in armed groups for lack of employment.
- Directly support civil society organisations, contribute to capacity building of civil society members in developing countries to make localisation effective.
- The conflict situation in our country the DRC, the lack of peace for more than 20 years blocks the normal functioning of the education and health sectors and access to the means of subsistence and food for the local population. Without PEACE nothing can work. This is why we ask the G7 to support the governments to restore peace and that the G7 pleads for MONUSCO (United Nations Mission in Congo) to play its important role in its mandate to fight and prevent conflicts.
(Translated from French, below).*
Nous avons la chance d’être sélectionner comme participante au sommet G7 sur la société civile qui s’est tenu au Royaume unie du 19 au 20 Avril 2021. Pendant ces deux jours, nous avons eu une opportunité de partager avec les autres participants les éléments ci-après :
- Education : accroitre le financement lie au programme de l’éducation afin de faciliter une éducation inclusive et équitable , filles et garçons tous à l’école à travers la promotion de l’éducation formelle et non formelle pour faciliter ceux-là ayant déjà accuse un retard scolaire ,que le G7 plaide auprès des gouvernement des pays en voie de développement sur l’effectivite de la gratuite de l’école primaire pour permettre aux enfants vulnérables issus des familles pauvre d’y accéder ,et d’instaurer la paix dans les zones en conflits pour permettre aux enfants d’étudier sans beaucoup des stress,interger dans les programme de l’enseignement une leçon lie à la prévention du covid19 pour sensibiliser les élèves a l’école pour qu’ils se protègent a l’école comme en famille et communauté de vie ;
- Sante : doter les personnels soignant des capacités nécessaires pour répondre efficacement aux problèmes de épidémies et pandémies , appuyer les programmes de création des mutuelles de santé dans les pays africains pour faciliter l’accès aux soins de santé primaire pour tous ,apporter un appui aux activités de prévention du covid19 qui est un facteur aggravant de la situation sanitaire dans le monde ;
- Sécurité alimentaire et nutrition : prévoir des réponses efficaces aux situations crise alimentaire en aval et non en amont pour prévenir des maladies chronique lies a la malnutrition dans le monde ;
- Accès aux moyens de subsistance : appuyer le programme de développement durable avec le renforcement de l’agriculture, élevage formation professionnelle des jeunes qui se réfugient dans les groupes armes par manque d’occupation.
- Appuyer directement les organisations de la société civile, contribuer au renforcement des capacités des membres de la société civile des pays en développement pour rendre effective la localisation.
- La situation de conflit dans notre pays la RDC ,Le manque de la paix durable depuis plus de 20 ans bloque le fonctionnement normale du secteur de l’éducation ,de la sante ,d’accès aux moyens de subsistance de la population locale et accès a une bonne alimentation d’où sans la PAIX rien qui peux marcher , C’est pourquoi nous demandons au G7 d’appuyer les gouvernements pour le rétablissement de la paix et que le G7 plaide pour que la MONUSCO ( mission des nations unies au Congo) joue son role important dans son mandat de combattre et de prévenir les conflits .