On Thursday, November 14, during the first day of the G20 Social 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, AVSI Brasil led a panel on “Social Protection in Climate Disasters.” The event brought together representatives from civil society, social movements, and international organizations to foster an inclusive and in-depth discussion on protecting vulnerable populations facing the growing challenges of climate disasters.
Speakers and contributions
The panel featured distinguished speakers, including Beto Fantinel, Secretary of the Department of Social Development of Rio Grande do Sul (SEDES); Heli Mansur, Project Manager at AVSI Brasil; Ildes Andrade, President of AMOVILA (Association of Vila Sahy Residents); Regis Spindola, Director of the Special Social Protection Department at the Ministry of Social Development (MDS); and Paolo Caputo, Chief of Mission for IOM Brasil (International Organization for Migration). The discussion was moderated by Fabrizio Pellicelli, President of AVSI Brasil.
The importance of collective support
Regis Spindola opened the panel by emphasizing the federal government’s role in emergency situations: “During emergencies, everyone is highly vulnerable, and we need to provide support. This is a joint and collective effort, involving the community and organizations.”
Beto Fantinel highlighted the importance of government initiatives in Rio Grande do Sul and the partnership with AVSI Brasil: “AVSI Brasil has been a great partner, supporting our communities and helping people rebuild their lives.”
Paolo Caputo offered an international perspective, stressing that “emergencies cannot be addressed solely in the post-disaster phase; they must be approached with a focus on the broader life circumstances of the affected population.”
Voices from the local communities
Heli Mansur highlighted AVSI Brasil’s work during climate disasters: “All of our organization’s efforts focus on supporting and empowering grassroots associations. We are proud to assist and help populations affected by these disasters.”
Ildes Andrade shared her experience from the climate disaster in São Sebastião (São Paulo State): “We were going through a very difficult time, and AVSI Brasil stepped in to help us, listening to and understanding our needs. Thanks to an entrepreneurship course, many residents were able to start their own businesses and rebuild their lives.”
A more just and sustainable future
Moderating the panel, Fabrizio Pellicelli underscored the importance of collaboration among all social actors to build more inclusive public policies. He also emphasized that AVSI Brasil is honored to contribute to the G20 Social, an event aimed at creating a fairer and more sustainable future for all: “It is essential to place climate disasters at the center of discussions to ensure adequate social protection.”
The AVSI Brasil panel at the 2024 G20 Social played a key role in discussing the need for a more effective and inclusive social protection model in response to climate disasters. The active participation of various social actors was identified as a crucial factor in ensuring effective, community-driven responses focused on the common good and human dignity.4o
Subscribe to AVSI newsletter
Sign up to receive news and information on our work in the world.