Children Help Shape the G20 Social Summit as South Africa Recognises Child Rights and Participation

South Africa’s G20 Social Summit opens this week with a clear message from children across the continent that meaningful change is only possible when their voices shape the decisions that affect their futures.

Over the past weekend, (November 15 and 16), children gathered in Johannesburg for the Children20 Pre-Summit engagement, with others joining online from across Africa. Together they unpacked, discussed, and debated issues relevant to their lived experience, to produce a bold and uncompromising declaration that outlines what they believe G20 leaders must prioritise to build a just and inclusive world. 

The pre-engagement offered children a structured space to interrogate the same themes that frame the G20 Social Summit. Through facilitated discussions, creative dialogue, and peer-led analysis, children drew on their own insights and perspectives to explore issues of economic justice, digital governance, early childhood development, and climate resilience. The result is a clear and confident set of “calls to action” and recommendations from young people who understand the stakes and refuse to be sidelined.

Throughout the G20 Summit, children’s insights will be amplified through four official side events:

Early Childhood Development

This event, hosted by Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) with participation from the Global Leaders Network, highlights the centrality of early learning and maternal wellbeing in achieving equitable development. Guided by the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa as Chair of the Network, the event reinforces that investing in women, children, and adolescents is one of the most effective pathways to inclusive growth, social equity, and sustainable progress.

Adolescents, Participation and Agency

This session examines how youth engagement can be embedded in public policy processes, ensuring that adolescents influence decisions shaping their social and economic futures.

Digital Justice and Safety

Children, policymakers, and technical experts explore the urgent need for safe digital ecosystems, stronger regulation, and equitable digital access for all young people.

UNICEF State of the World’s Children Launch (20 November)

On World Children’s Day, UNICEF and the Government of South Africa will launch The State of the World’s Children 2025 report. This flagship global publication focuses on child poverty and calls for greater investment in social protection and other proven interventions. Aligning the launch with the Social Summit elevates child poverty as a political priority across G20 governments.

International Day of the Child: A Defining Moment for the Social Summit

The G20 Social Summit concludes on 20 November, the International Day of the Child. On this day, children will hand over their declaration – led Amogelang Mashele (14), President of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament – representing all participating children. This symbolic and political moment affirms the right of children to shape the policies that govern their lives and demonstrates South Africa’s commitment to embedding meaningful child participation in global decision making.

A Call to Place Children at the Centre of Global Policy

The Children20 declaration is clear: Young people expect action on inclusive digital transformation, stronger early childhood systems, climate justice, poverty reduction, gender equality, and governance that protects their rights and their futures. Children call on G20 leaders to move beyond rhetoric and embrace policies that recognise children as partners, not passive beneficiaries.

The Social Summit takes place at a critical moment for global development. By elevating children’s voices, South Africa signals to the G20 that no credible social compact can exclude the people who will live longest with the consequences of today’s decisions.