Cape Town:United Nations: President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the United Nations General Assembly to endorse the creation of an International Panel on Inequality (IPI) to transform growing global concern over inequality into coordinated action.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa's call was made in a pre-recorded message during a high-level event on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The proposed panel is a key outcome from South Africa's G20 Presidency in 2025 and aims to be advanced through multilateral efforts.
The event, co-hosted by South Africa, Brazil, Norway, and Spain alongside Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz, gathered leaders and representatives from various sectors to support the panel's establishment. President Ramaphosa emphasized the shared goal among these nations to combat extreme inequality and cited Nelson Mandela on the importance of addressing poverty, injustice, and inequality.
The proposed IPI, inspired by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, would provide authoritative assessments on inequality, monitor trends, and evaluate drivers and policy responses. It seeks to offer evidence-based insights to policymakers globally.
President Ramaphosa stressed the need for the initiative to gain formal UN backing, highlighting its growing coalition of support. He framed the panel as a crucial step in building a multilateral response to inequality and called for collective action rooted in cooperation and shared purpose.