The BRICS People's Council submits recommendations to be conveyed today to Heads of State and Government
During its first ever in-person session, the Council engaged in substantive deliberations across seven priority pillars reflecting the core interests of civil society in the Global South. A subsequent meeting was scheduled for October in Salvador, Bahia
By Franciéli Barcellos de Moraes / BRICS Brasil
The BRICS People's Council, formally acknowledged in the 2024 Kazan Declaration, convened in person for the first time. This development marks a significant institutional advance and was welcomed by the peoples of the Global South. Within the framework of the primary cooperation forum among developing nations, these peoples now benefit from a permanent channel for dialogue between governments and organized society from member and partner states.
The session, held on 4–5 July in Rio de Janeiro, represented a continuation of civil forums convened since 2015 which, upon reaching a decade of activity, were institutionalized as a component of the People-to-People (P2P) pillar of BRICS. 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. At the conclusion of the two-day deliberations, a Compendium of Recommendations was adopted, focusing on seven thematic areas: health, education, ecology, culture, finance, digital sovereignty, and the group’s institutional framework.
The Compendium, accessible in its entirety via the indicated link (in portuguese), will be formally transmitted today, 6 July, to Heads of State and Government during the Leaders’ Summit—marking yet another unprecedented development under Brasil’s chairmanship of BRICS. In April, civil society achieved a further historic milestone in its enhanced engagement with the group’s formal deliberations, having participated directly in consultations with sherpas, the political negotiators of member states.
“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, a leading figure in the Landless Workers’ Movement (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais sem Terra, MST) and Brasil’s representative on the Council.
"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"
— JOÃO PEDRO STÉDILE, leading figure in the Landless Workers’ Movement
“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 endeavor,” 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.
Brasil offered an exemplary setting for the convening, as the integration of governments and movements within international processes has become a distinctive feature of Brazilian diplomacy under the leadership of President Lula. Last year, the Federal Government hosted the Social G20 with the participation of nearly 50,000 individuals, ahead of the Leaders’ Summit of the world's principal economies.
This point was reiterated by Márcio Macedo, Minister of the Secretariat-General of the Presidency of the Republic, during the opening of the Council session on Friday, 4 July. “I do not believe in initiatives undertaken in isolation. People are the ones who know their own reality and what they need. Only then can we formulate effective public policies. May this Council engage in dialogue with the BRICS Summit, as we have successfully done in the context of the Social G20," he stated.
In addition to the Minister of the Secretariat-General of the Presidency, the Ministry of Finance was also represented by Antonio Cottas, Deputy Secretary for International Finance and Economic Cooperation, who reaffirmed the taxation of the ultra-wealthy as a priority on both the national and international agendas under Brasil’s coordination.
Next steps
It was confirmed that in October, an additional in-person convening of BRICS civil society would be held, still under Brasil’s chairmanship, with the objective of advancing and deepening dialogue following the dissemination of outcomes from the Leaders’ Summit. Popular movements in Brasil 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.
Here is the executive summary of the Compendium’s seven thematic pillars:
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-centered 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-centered 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-centered 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.
Translation: Michel Emmanuel Félix François (POET/UFC)
Proofreading: Enora Lessinger (POET/UFC)