With a growing shift away from multilateralism in parts of the world, nongovernmental organizations providing advice and recommendations to next year's Group of 20 leaders' summit in Osaka are increasingly concerned whether leaders would take into account their views when addressing global issues such as anti-corruption measures, climate change and gender inequality.
During a meeting by the Japan Civil Society Platform for the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka on Saturday, attendees wondered to what extent the leaders of Japan and other G20 nations would listen to the policy recommendations of citizens' groups, many of which have expertise in their fields.
Atsuko Miwa, director of the Osaka-based Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center, said that it was getting harder for NGOs to participate in big events like the G20.