Global Governance

SC Statement at the Council of the Global South Research Center, 28 March 2025

Statement of Carlos Correa, Executive Director of the South Centre, on occasion of the Council of the Global South Research Center

Beijing, March 28th, 2025

We welcome the creation of the Global South Research Center with the Secretariat of the Center for International Knowledge on Development (CIKD), and look forward to the opportunities to cooperate on themes of particular relevance for the Global South.

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SouthViews No. 285, 28 March 2025

Advancing International Cooperation under the Global Digital Compact

By Danish

Bridging the global digital divide in new and emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence, will require developing countries to strongly leverage international cooperation to build digital skills, knowledge and gain access to these technologies which can accelerate their digital transformation and sustainable development. This emphasis on international cooperation is also deeply embedded in the Global Digital Compact, which was adopted as part of the Pact for the Future. This paper therefore looks at how international cooperation modalities have been included in the GDC across the different issue areas, how developing countries are already engaging with the GDC through their national initiatives, and provides some useful considerations going forward.

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Policy Brief 138, 27 March 2025

Will the Global Digital Compact ensure an equitable future for Developing Countries?

By Daniel Uribe

The Global Digital Compact (GDC), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2024, aims to establish a framework for equitable digital transformation, particularly for developing countries. While the GDC acknowledges the importance of human rights, bridging the digital divide, and ensuring a just transition, it faces significant challenges in addressing structural inequalities and implementing robust accountability mechanisms. This paper examines the GDC’s potential to foster an inclusive digital future, highlighting the necessity of addressing fundamental rights, promoting business accountability through a legally binding instrument, and recognising the interconnectedness of digital inclusion with access to essential resources like energy, education, and healthcare.

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Research Paper 216, 27 February 2025

Will the Pact for the Future Advance a Common Global Agenda on the Challenges Facing Humanity?

By Viviana Munoz Tellez, Danish, Abdul Muheet Chowdhary, Nirmalya Syam, Daniel Uribe

At a time when multilateralism is needed more than ever to address the global challenges and rising geopolitical tensions, paradoxically, the capacity and delegated power of the United Nations (UN) to uphold a rule-based order to keep peace and security is being weakened. Even in an increasingly multipolar world, a retreat towards unilateralism by world powers masked as national sovereignty is dangerous and highly unfavourable for developing countries. In this light, the United Nations Pact for the Future, a new forward-looking agenda of commitments adopted by consensus by UN Member States in September 2024, is a welcome initiative. The Pact for the Future, nonetheless, is short in delivering commitments on transformative changes in global governance and solutions to the most pressing global challenges. This document briefly examines some of the actions and high-level commitments in the Pact of the Future to strengthen multilateral cooperation and provides recommendations for their implementation.

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SouthViews No. 277, 21 November 2024

60 years of Contribution of the Group of 77 and China to Global South Coalition in International Development and Politics

By Yuefen Li and Danish

The New York Chapter of the Group of 77 and China (G77 and China) commemorated its 60th Anniversary on 25 October 2024 in New York. This document is based on the presentation made by Prof. Yuefen Li, Senior Advisor on South-South Cooperation and Development Finance at the South Centre, as part of the panel discussion held at the commemoration on the theme of “60 years of Contribution of the Group of 77 and China to Global South Coalition in International Development and Politics”.

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SC Statement at FOGGS event, 24 October 2024

A RAFT FOR THE FUTURE: Can the Pact for the Future Deliver the Multilateral Titanic?

South Centre Statement

24 October 2024

The South Centre participated in the Foundation for Global Governance and Sustainability (FOGGS) event evaluating the Pact For The Future. The Pact is a crucial step but needs a concrete roadmap with clear actions & timelines to find solutions central to developing countries.

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South Centre Comments to the GDC 3rd Rev, August 2024

Comments to the Global Digital Compact Third Revision

South Centre

Geneva, August 2024

The Global Digital Compact to be agreed in September 2024 is a step towards equitable digital transformation.

Implementation of the Global Digital Compact will require inclusive, strengthened multilateralism, international cooperation and financing to close digital divides.

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SouthViews No. 273, 22 August 2024

The United Nations Call to Enhance International Cooperation for Capacity-Building on Artificial Intelligence

By Carlos M. Correa

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved into a transformative technology that permeates various facets of modern life, ranging from healthcare and education to finance and national security. Recognizing the profound implications and global nature of AI, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/78/311 which aims at fostering international cooperation regarding capacity-building in AI and ensuring that its development and deployment are ethical, equitable, and beneficial to all.

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