July 4-5
BRICS People's Council, Rio de Janeiro
Civil Society Organizations' Recommendations to Heads of State and Government
The BRICS People's Council, formally established at the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, convened in-person for the first time in Rio de Janiero from July 4 to 5, where it continued the work of the BRICS civil forums held since 2015.
In the months leading up to the in-person meeting, preparatory engagements were conducted online, with the participation of more than 120 social organizations from member countries.
"What we intend to convey is that cooperation must necessarily involve civil society organizations. While governments may engage with high-level political agendas and prominent issues in the current context, it is imperative to build more tangible channels for technological and cultural cooperation, and these can only be forged by the peoples themselves," stated João Pedro Stédile, of Landless Workers' Movement (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais sem Terra, MST) and Brazil's representative on the Council.
"Civic engagement and popular participation are the foundational support to all debates. This is a significant outcome of our time -- an authentic product of our collective endeavour," remarked Victoria Panova, Russian representative to the Council. She further underscored that, although the institutionalization of the mechanism took place during Russia's chairmanship, it was the result of a genuine aspiration and concerted effort by societies across all participating countries.
At the conclusion of the two-day deliberations, a Compendium of Recommendations was adopted, focusing on seven thematic areas:
BRICS and the Establishment of a Global Public Health Regime: Outlining a comprehensive strategy aimed at advancing health equity, reinforcing public health systems, and enhancing cooperation among member countries. The document affirms health as a fundamental human right and underscores the imperative for systemic responses that address the social determinants of disease, safeguard vulnerable populations, and prioritize prevention and dignity in service delivery.
Non-Western Strategies for Education in BRICS Countries: Presenting a vision for the development of inclusive, people-centred educational models that affirm the sovereignty, diversity, and cooperation of member nations. Recognizing education as a universal right and a strategic domain for international cooperation, the document outlines structural reforms aimed at countering commodification, strengthening public systems, and enhancing democratic governance in education across the Global South.
Environmental Crisis, Climate Justice, and Alternatives for Sustainable Development for the Peoples of the Global South: In view of escalating environmental emergencies, mounting geopolitical tensions, and the weakening of global climate commitments, the strategic recommendations aim to advance climate justice and sustainable development led by and for the Global South. The document articulates a people-centred ecological agenda grounded in social equity, environmental integrity, and international cooperation among BRICS member states.
Culture and Arts for BRICS Integration: Asserting the centrality of cultural cooperation to strengthen BRICS, fostering multipolarity, and advancing mutual understanding among the group's diverse societies. Grounded in principles of anti-colonialism, cultural diversity, and social justice, the document outlines a comprehensive set of proposals aimed at promoting cultural integration, artistic collaboration, heritage preservation, and inclusive development among member states.
Financial and Monetary Systems in a Multipolar World: Outlining a strategic framework for restructuring the global financial architecture from the vantage point of the Global South. The proposals aim to advance sovereign, inclusive, and sustainable development across BRICS member states, moving beyond conventional market paradigms to address pressing human, social, environmental, and financial challenges. The recommendations encompass international taxation, trade, monetary policy, financial cooperation, technology, and institutional reform.
Digital Economy, Digital Sovereignty, Artificial Intelligence, and Governance: Outlining a strategic framework for advancing digital sovereignty, inclusive governance of artificial intelligence (AI), and a human-centred digital economy. Acknowledging the growing concentration of technological power and global disparities in digital development, the document advocates enhanced cooperation among BRICS member states to ensure a just, secure, and autonomous digital transformation, firmly grounded in social justice and human rights.
BRICS, its Institutional Framework and Respect for Sovereignty in Advancing Global Peace: Presenting a strategic vision for strengthening peace, sovereignty, and institutional reform within the group. The document advocates a multipolar global order grounded in the self-determination of peoples, in democratic governance, and in inclusive participation. As BRICS continues to expand, it must cultivate stronger institutional structures to ensure coherence, transparency, and effective coordination -- while embracing diversity and resisting external coercion.
The compendium was formally transmitted on July 6 to Heads of State and Government during the BRICS Summit.
In October, an additional in-person convening of BRICS civil society will be held, still under Brazil's chairmanship, with the objective of advancing and deepening dialogue following the dissemination of outcomes from the BRICS Summit. Popular movements in Brazil have proposed and are actively organizing an expanded conference, to be held over three days in Salvador, Bahia.
The initiative seeks to convene between 250 and 300 participants, including approximately 10 to 15 delegates per member state, alongside representatives from other nations and organizations engaged in the process. The objective is to strengthen collaboration among the peoples of the Global South and to enable practical cooperation initiatives led by civil society and its movements.
(infobrics.org)
This article was published in
Volume 55 Number 18 - July 18, 2025
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2025/Articles/TS55185.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca