Table of Contents
C20 Meetings of 01/07/2024 – 8.00 ~ 18:00
After participating in numerous Zoom meetings over the last few months in nine C20 2024 Working Groups (see the other articles), and after sending many written contributions by email, the C20 organizing committee wrote to us to say that they found it important that we participate in the two-day in-person event “C20 Midterm Meeting“.
Additionally, the fact that we are located just two metro stations away from the event venue (Casa Firjan) also played a role.
The first day began with statements from representatives of Brazilian Ministers (see the list in the PDF document below).
Speaking: Henrique Frota (Executive Director of Instituto Pólis and President of C20 2024) – © Maicon Douglas
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Gustavo Westmann (Diplomatic Advisor of the Presidency of Brazil) – © Maicon Douglas
In particular, there was Mr. Gustavo Westmann, who is the Diplomatic Advisor to the General Secretariat of the Presidency of Brazil.
Very friendly, he promised us (twice) to get back to us, after we explained that other governmental entities are not really responding and do not seem to understand or realize the interest, relevance, and great utility of what we propose.
We were also able to get to know several Working Group co-facilitators more personally and “in real life,” and some spontaneously told us that they found useful and interesting, and particularly appreciated the amount of information we provided them about autism (and even on some other much broader reflective themes).
We also met various activists from different countries and made some contacts.
Among the various friendly encounters, there was an actor whose comments we greatly appreciated, Bruno Garcia (who seems rather well-known and liked in Brazil), with whom we were able to chat in a relaxed manner.
Bruno Garcia (Brazilian actor), Gustavo Westmann (Diplomatic Advisor of the Presidency of Brazil), Henrique Frota (Executive Director of Instituto Pólis, and President of C20 2024) – © Maicon Douglas
We also met Flavio Lino, the Municipal Secretary for Rio de Janeiro of the National Movement of Street Population, a very convincing man who carries a strong voice and visibility for this “invisibilized” and “ignored” population. We have been discussing remotely for quite some time, as there is a significant intersection between autism and homelessness. We are considering joint projects. But as always, the main obstacle is the indifference of public authorities.
Bruno Garcia (Brazilian actor), Flavio Lino (Municipal Secretary for Rio de Janeiro of the National Movement of Street Population), Gustavo Westmann (Diplomatic Advisor of the Presidency of Brazil) – © Maicon Douglas
Regarding the G20 “per se”, we do not have very high hopes, however, it is important to participate, and it is certain that thanks to our organization and efforts, the word “autism” will appear more than once in the documents (“Policy pack” and declaration) that will be published soon.
The mere mention of the need to consider autistics is not enough to know *how* to consider them, but it’s a good start.
To know how to properly consider autism in public policies, starting by establishing a special governmental body for autism, then creating a National Autism Plan, including particularly a policy of complete accessibility for autism, they just have to contact us, given that we know most of the answers, details, and nuances.
(In this regard, the Study we conducted on the Australian National Autism Strategy can give an idea of the fact that this statement is founded.)
We can just hope that some day the governmental authorities will finally begin a true attentive dialogue devoid of the medical approach or defectological or other prejudices about autism.
Flavio Lino (Municipal Secretary for Rio de Janeiro of the National Movement of Street Population), Bruno Garcia (Brazilian actor), a representative of the Autistan Diplomatic Organization*, Dominique Magalhães (who was with Bruno Garcia), Gustavo Westmann (Diplomatic Advisor of the Presidency of Brazil) – © Maicon Douglas —– *: Anonymization measures aim, among other reasons, to try – whenever possible – to discourage any inclination or hope of “shiny autism” within our organization.
Working Group N°6 (Education and Culture) —– *: Anonymization measures aim, among other reasons, to try – whenever possible – to discourage any inclination or hope of “shiny autism” within our organization.
Video Broadcast in Portuguese
Video Broadcast in English (real-time translation)
C20 Meetings of 02/07/2024 – 9.00 ~ 17:00
About this second day, here are some notable highlights.
1. The presence of Felipe Hees, Sous-Sherpa of the G20 at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He explained various things about the current functioning and proceedings of the G20, and he answered questions from the co-facilitators of the Working Groups.
(see also https://www.g20.org/en/news/civil-20-holds-midterm-meeting-in-rio-ahead-of-sherpas-gathering)
All this seems quite abstract and “distant,” but it’s always better to know these things (and experience them) rather than being totally excluded, as if it were happening on the Moon or Mars.
The Flag of Autistan, Henrique Frota (Executive Director of Instituto Pólis, and President of C20 2024), Fabricio Prado (Advisor of Civil Society Participation and Diversity at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Alessandra Nilo (Sherpa of the C20 2024), Felipe Hees, Brazilian Sous-Sherpa of the G20.
2. The presence of Fabricio Prado, who is the Advisor for social participation and diversity at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil.
Very friendly, he explained that there are now similar entities for each Ministry, and that civil society (us) can contact them.
At the end, he gave his card to several persons who gave theirs to him, including us, of course.
It has been a while since we intended to contact Itamaraty (this Ministry) given that we are an international organization that engages in “Track II Diplomacy“, and given that the other governmental entities we have contacted in Brazil do not seem sufficiently interested in our proposals for informative help.
3. It was also very useful to know several co-facilitators and participants more personally.
Some co-facilitators told us that they very much appreciated and learned a lot from everything we have told them and sent them over the past few months.
Among various encounters:
– Andressa Pellanda (co-facilitator of the Education and Culture Working Group) (at left on the picture).
She particularly praised our participation.
– Luciana Viegas (at right on the picture), a very friendly and open autistic young woman, we discussed a lot about various issues and projects.
– Aio Horiuchi, an activist from Japan (janic.org). It’s important to know someone in Japan, as currently we have no contacts there (and we really haven’t looked, due to lack of time). He kindly offered to help us out a little in Japan.
– Simon Vilakazi, an activist from South Africa, very kind, we will discuss with him to prepare for C20 2025 in South Africa (remotely).
– Juliana Cesar, a very kind lady from ABONG, who gave very useful advice.
– Pedro Peres (co-facilitator of the Digitalization and Technology Working Group), with whom we had interesting discussions.
– And many other kind people sincerely involved in various causes.
Working Group N°5 (Integrated Health for All) © Maicon Douglas —– *: Anonymization measures aim, among other reasons, to try – whenever possible – to discourage any inclination or hope of “shiny autism” within our organization.
C20 – T20 Meetings of 03/07/2024
First C20 – T20 meeting, led by Gustavo Westmann and Felipe Hees
Second C20 – T20 meeting, led by Gustavo Westmann and Felipe Hees
Felipe Hees and a representative of the Autistan Diplomatic Organization* —– *: Purpose of anonymization measures: among other reasons, to try – as much as possible – to discourage any inclination or hope for “shiny autism” within our organization. —> See the article on this meeting
Publication on C20 Brazil official site (04/07/2027)
From this page of today at c20brasil.org:
“The C20 Brazil Midterm Meeting took place on July 1st and 2nd at Casa Firjan in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This meeting represented the culmination of global civil society’s political coordination efforts as part of its strategy to influence the G20.
The aim was to present and reflect on the policy recommendations created by the ten thematic Working Groups within the C20 Brazil 2024.
Click here to read the C20 Brazil Recommendations for the 3rd G20 Sherpas’ Meeting “
Our comment:
The term ‘autism’ appears once in this very brief document, marking its first occurrence in the history of C20 publications – a milestone clearly due to our efforts.
This document is not the only one in the pipeline; a more extensive ‘Policy Pack’ is expected soon.
We are confident that ‘autism’ will be mentioned much more frequently in this upcoming pack, and importantly, without the erroneous phrasing ‘with autism’.
Indeed, we have been very meticulous in overseeing such details across 9 working groups (https://g20.autistan.org) dedicated to the Policy Pack. Unfortunately, we did not have access to the composition of the summary that was published today, 04/07/2024.
G20 Social Meeting of 04/07/2024
Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio (G20 Sherpa of Brazil), Gustavo Westmann (Diplomatic Advisor to the Presidency of Brazil) and Felipe Hees (Deputy G20 Sherpa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil) – © Image: Audiovisual/G20
© Photo: Audiovisual/G20https://www.g20.org/pt-br/noticias/videos/maior-participacao-social-no-g20