Rio's favelas host social debate forum focused on G20

Representatives from 10 major favelas in Rio de Janeiro have confirmed their attendance this Monday (Jul. 8) at Favelas 20 (F20), a debate forum aimed at presenting community demands to the Social G20. The event will be held at Casa Voz Vidigal, in the Vidigal favela, in the southern part of the city.

The G20 Social Summit is scheduled for November 14-16, also in Rio de Janeiro. The F20 intends to expand the participation and decision-making influence of favela movements in the summit proceedings. Leaders view this as an opportunity to solidify social participation as a significant legacy of Brazil's G20 presidency.

The F20's purpose is to empower favela voices in advocating for social justice and advancing agendas to address issues like poverty, violence, environmental impact, and infrastructure deficiencies. Without incorporating the favela perspective in G20 discussions, there is concern that the specific needs of these communities may be overlooked.

"The goal of the F20 is to engage the favela population in decision-making. We aspire to significantly increase their participation in local, regional, and global discussions, reflecting their lived experiences. Our objective is to integrate the favelas into global dialogues," explains Gabriela Santos, executive director of Voz das Comunidades (Voice of the Communities), a non-governmental institution representing favela residents that promotes social responsibility and cultural events.

The F20 is organized into five working groups: combating inequalities, poverty, hunger, and promoting mental health; access to drinking water, basic sanitation, and personal hygiene; combating the climate crisis and promoting a just energy transition; fighting the risk of natural disasters; transformation, digital and cultural inclusion.