BRICS: Strengthening multilateralism for a more just global order

BRICS 2024

Penang, 28 Oct (Kanaga Raja) — The leaders of the expanded BRICS group of countries, meeting in Kazan, the Russian Federation, reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and upholding international law, including the purposes and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter as its indispensable cornerstone, as well as the central role of the UN in the international system.

In their Kazan Declaration, adopted at the end of the 16th BRICS Summit (22-24 October), the leaders noted the emergence of new centres of power, policy decision-making and economic growth, which can pave the way for a more equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order.

“Multipolarity can expand opportunities for EMDCs (emerging market and developing countries) to unlock their constructive potential and enjoy universally beneficial, inclusive and equitable economic globalization and cooperation. Bearing in mind the need to adapt the current architecture of international relations to better reflect the contemporary realities, we reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism and upholding the international law, including the Purposes and Principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN) as its indispensable cornerstone, and the central role of the UN in the international system, in which sovereign states cooperate to maintain international peace and security, advance sustainable development, ensure the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all as well as cooperation based on solidarity, mutual respect, justice and equality,” they said.

They further emphasized the urgent need to achieve equitable and inclusive geographical representation in the staff composition of the Secretariat of the United Nations and other international organizations in a timely manner.

“We reiterate our commitment to improving global governance by promoting a more agile, effective, efficient, responsive, representative, legitimate, democratic and accountable international and multilateral system. We call for assuring greater and more meaningful participation of EMDCs and least developed countries, especially in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, in global decision-making processes and structures and making them better attuned to contemporary realities.”

The leaders also called for increasing the role and share of women, especially from EMDCs, at different levels of responsibilities in the international organizations.

“As a positive step in this direction, we acknowledge the G20 Call to Action on Global Governance Reform launched by Brazil during its G20 presidency.”

Recognizing the 2023 Johannesburg II Declaration, the leaders reaffirmed their support “for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including BRICS countries, to play a greater role in international affairs, in particular in the United Nations, including its Security Council.”

“We recognise the legitimate aspirations of African countries, reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.”

The leaders reaffirmed their support for the rules-based, open, transparent, fair, predictable, inclusive, equitable, non-discriminatory, consensus-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core, with special and differential treatment (S&DT) for developing countries, including Least Developed Countries, and rejected the unilateral trade restrictive measures that are inconsistent with WTO rules.

The leaders welcomed the outcomes of the 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and reiterated their commitment to work towards implementation of the decisions and declarations of WTO Ministerial Conferences, noting, however, that there is still a need for further efforts in many outstanding issues.

“We emphasize the importance of reforming the WTO and strengthening the developmental dimension in its work.”

“We commit to engage constructively within the WTO to attain the goal to deliver a fully and well-functioning two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement system by 2024 accessible to all, and the selection of new Appellate Body Members without further delay.”

The BRICS leaders agreed to enhance their dialogue on multilateral trading system and WTO-related issues and welcomed the establishment of the BRICS Informal Consultative Framework on WTO issues.

“We reiterate the decision under the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2025 to take actions to support the necessary WTO reform to enhance the WTO’s resilience, authority and efficacy, and promote development and inclusivity,” they said.

“We are deeply concerned about the disruptive effect of unlawful unilateral coercive measures, including illegal sanctions, on the world economy, international trade, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

“Such measures undermine the UN Charter, the multilateral trading system, sustainable development and environmental agreements. They also negatively impact economic growth, energy, health and food security exacerbating poverty and environmental challenges,” they said.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a strong and effective Global Financial Safety Net with a quota-based and adequately resourced IMF at its center.

“We call for the reform of the Bretton Woods institutions, which includes increased representation of EMDCs in leadership positions to reflect the contribution of EMDCs to the global economy,” they said.

“We support a merit-based, inclusive and equitable selection process for the top positions at the Bretton Woods institutions, increased geographical representation and the role and share of women.”

The leaders noted the quota increase at the 16th General Review of Quotas (GRQ) and urged members to secure domestic approvals to make quota increase effective.

“We welcome the decision to create a 25th chair at the IMF Executive Board to enhance the voice and representation of Sub-Saharan Africa.”

The BRICS leaders acknowledged the urgency and importance of realignment in quota shares to better reflect members’ relative positions in the world economy, while protecting the quota shares of EMDCs, in particular, the poorest members.

“We welcome the IMF Executive Board’s ongoing work to develop by June 2025 possible approaches as a guide for further quota realignment, including through a new quota formula, under the 17th GRQ. The discussions should result in quota realignment that is fair and transparent, enhances the representation of under-represented IMF members, and transfers quota share from advanced economies to EMDCs.”

The BRICS leaders looked forward to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) 2025 Shareholding Review.

The leaders stressed the universal and inclusive nature of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals, and that implementation should take into account different national circumstances, capacities and levels of development, whilst respecting national policies and priorities and in conformity with national legislation.

The leaders said that they will exert all efforts to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions and commit to put it at the center of the international cooperation agenda in order to better address imbalances and inadequacies of development.

The leaders condemned the attempts to subject development to discriminatory politically motivated practices, including but not limited to unilateral coercive measures that are incompatible with the principles of the UN Charter, explicit or implied political conditionality of development assistance, activities, aiming at compromising the multiplicity of international development assistance providers.

They underscored the key role of the G20 as the premier global forum for multilateral economic and financial cooperation that provides a platform for dialogue of both developed and emerging economies on an equal and mutually beneficial footing for jointly seeking shared solutions to global challenges.

“We recognise the importance of the continued and productive functioning of the G20, based on consensus with a focus on result-oriented outcomes. We support the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and the work of the Task Force for a Global Mobilization against Climate Change, as well as the landmark Rio de Janeiro Declaration on International Tax Cooperation.”

CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENT

The leaders reiterated that the objectives, principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol and its Paris Agreement, including its principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC) in the light of different national circumstances, must be honoured.

“We condemn unilateral measures introduced under the pretext of climate and environmental concerns and reiterate our commitment to enhancing coordination on these issues. We will strengthen cooperation on a whole range of solutions and technologies that contribute to the reduction and removal of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).”

The leaders also noted the role of carbon sinks in absorbing GHGs and mitigating climate change, whilst also highlighting the importance of adaptation and stressing the need for the adequate provision of the means of implementation, namely financial resources, technology transfer and capacity building.

The leaders recalled that the UNFCCC, including the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) sessions, is the primary and legitimate international forum to discuss the issue of climate change in all its dimensions.

“We are deeply concerned with attempts to link security with the climate change agenda,” they said.

The leaders commended Egypt for hosting COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022, where the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage was established, and the UAE for hosting COP28 in Dubai in 2023, where the Fund was operationalized.

“We welcome the UAE Consensus achieved at COP28, including the decision entitled “Outcome of the first global stocktake”, and the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience. We express commitment to a successful COP29 in Azerbaijan, with an expectation of strong outcomes on climate finance to developing countries, as a critical enabler for delivering on the current and future nationally determined actions and ambitions in mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage,” they said.

“We support Brazil’s leadership in hosting COP30 in 2025 and welcome India’s candidacy to host COP33 in 2028.”

The BRICS leaders reaffirmed the importance of biodiversity conservation, including the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

They urged developed countries to ensure the provision of adequate, effective and easily accessible financial resources to developing countries to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and highlighted the importance of improving capacity building, development and transfer of technology from developed countries to developing countries for the conservation, sustainable use and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biodiversity.

“We recognise that land degradation, desertification, and drought are posing serious threats to the well-being and livelihoods of people and the environment, and, whilst acknowledging the ongoing efforts in promoting sustainable land management practices, we call for the urgent provision of increased financial resources, strong partnerships, and integrated policies to address the challenges of land degradation, desertification, and drought.”

In this regard, the leaders looked forward to the forthcoming sixteenth session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification that will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2 to 13 December 2024.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The BRICS leaders reaffirmed the need for all countries to cooperate in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms under the principles of equality and mutual respect.

“We agree to continue to treat all human rights including the right to development in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis.”

They agreed to strengthen cooperation on issues of common interests both within BRICS and in multilateral fora including the United Nations General Assembly and Human Rights Council, taking into account the necessity to promote, protect and fulfil human rights in a non-selective, non- politicised and constructive manner and without double standards.

The leaders called for the respect of democracy and human rights. “In this regard, we underline that they should be implemented on the level of global governance as well as at national level.”

They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all with the aim to build a brighter shared future for the international community based on mutually beneficial cooperation.

The BRICS leaders reiterated that the unilateral coercive measures, inter-alia in the form of unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions that are contrary to international law, have far-reaching implications for the human rights, including the right to development, of the general population of targeted states, disproportionally affecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations, and called for their elimination.

“We recall the 2001 Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) and the Outcome Document of the 2009 Durban Review Conference and acknowledge the need to intensify the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as well as discrimination based on religion, faith or belief, and all their contemporary forms around the world including the alarming trends of rising hate speech, and acknowledge the annual UNGA resolution on “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism, and other practices that contribute to fueling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”. - Third World Network