Amnesty International South Africa has urged world leaders attending the G20 Summit to prioritise principled leadership and human rights in response to multiple global crises. The organisation highlighted ongoing conflicts, including the situation in Gaza and Sudan, alongside domestic challenges such as climate change and gender-based violence.

“From embracing increasingly authoritarian practices to waging wars that devastate the lives of countless civilians, an alarming number of world leaders are dragging humanity down an extremely dangerous path,” said Shenilla Mohamed, Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa. She added that this is not the time to abandon international human rights obligations.

Amnesty International also called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African government to address human rights challenges at home, particularly in informal settlements. The organisation’s report, Flooded and Forgotten, revealed that more than five million South Africans living in informal settlements remain at risk due to poor access to housing and essential services. Flooding, worsened by human-induced climate change, continues to threaten these communities.

“Disaster risk reduction must be fully integrated into urban planning to protect residents from climate-related and other disasters,” Mohamed said.

The organisation also stressed the urgent need to address climate change, describing it as a major driver of global crises and rising inequality. Amnesty International called for a fast and fair phase-out of fossil fuels, a just transition to renewable energy, mandatory human rights due diligence for transition minerals, and increased climate finance for lower-income countries.

Gender-based violence in South Africa was another priority highlighted by Amnesty International. Mohamed said the criminal justice system has failed many victims, with poor investigative work and weak implementation of legislation offering little deterrent for perpetrators. Amnesty International supports ongoing public actions demanding accountability, including Women for Change’s G20 women’s shutdown scheduled for Friday.

Amnesty International South Africa’s statement ahead of the G20 Summit calls for urgent action on human rights, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and gender-based violence, both globally and domestically.