Rio de Janeiro, Nov. 19, (dpa/GNA) – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced the launch of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty at the start of the G20 summit the coastal metropolis of Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
“Hunger and poverty are not the result of scarcity or natural phenomena,” said Lula. Instead, they are the result of political decisions that lead to the exclusion of a large part of humanity, he said.
The initiative is one of the central themes of Brazil’s presidency of the G20, which brings together the world’s largest economies, and has received the public support of 81 countries.
Other discussions at the summit include institutional reform, climate protection and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The group will exchange experiences and coordinate measures for food security, Lula said: “This will be our greatest legacy.”
The Brazilian leader said the fight against hunger and poverty is a prerequisite for creating a peaceful world.
The Inter-American Development Bank has already pledged $25 billion dollars to the initiative.
The international nonprofit Oxfam demanded that, in addition, the G20 countries themselves must make substantial public investments in small-scale agriculture.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the European Union would also get involved in the initiative.
Lula calls for reform of global institutions
Lula also called for stronger multilateralism, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and representative global institutions to ensure stability and foster peace.
“The stability of the world depends on more representative institutions,” Lula said, highlighting the importance of including diverse voices in decision-making forums.
He described this diversity as “the path to peace” and essential for balance in global governance.
Lula urged swift reform of the international order, warning against waiting for crises like world wars or economic collapses to drive change.
“The future will be multipolar,” he said, advocating for proactive steps to reflect the shifting global landscape.
A key priority of Brazil’s G20 presidency is to overhaul international organizations, which Lula has criticized as outdated and unfair. He has accused the UN Security Council of lacking credibility and condemned institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) for meddling in the internal affairs of debtor nations.
GNA