‘We deserve a voice’ - Children demand a seat at the table at G20 Social Summit
Executive Summary
South Africa’s G20 Social Summit opened this week with children from across Africa demanding inclusion in global decision-making that shapes their futures. Young leaders like 14-year-old Amogelang Mashele, president of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament, and 16-year-old Sesona Qhimngqoshe presented demands drafted at a Johannesburg pre-summit, addressing economic justice, digital governance, early childhood development, and climate resilience, gathered via peer discussions and social media. They will hand the Children20 Declaration to President Cyril Ramaphosa on International Children’s Day, coinciding with UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2025 report on child poverty. This effort aims to formalize Children20 as an official G20 engagement, elevating youth voices to influence policy worldwide.