Stricter border controls exclude impoverished nations from attending summits, focusing on developing states
In a world where major international conferences are the places where big decisions are being made with respect to global commitments, stricter border and visa rules are limiting the participation of nationals from the Global South in high-level talks, such as United Nations climate conferences and global health forums.
The UNFCCC, which hosts the Bonn summit and COP30 climate conference, has taken steps to diversify participation at its events by boosting the quota for Global South delegates. However, stricter visa rules are proving to be a significant obstacle for these delegates.
The visa application processes impose challenging requirements, including advance permits and extensive documentation, which may not always be easy for participants to obtain or that host countries may scrutinize rigorously. This results in frequent visa denials, effectively excluding many delegates from discussions that impact their nations the most.
The International AIDS Society (IAS), which runs the International AIDS Conference, has been switching its host city since 2023 due to visa issues preventing delegates from attending. The IAS spokesperson stated that large conferences should prioritize finding safe and welcoming spaces for the most marginalized among us.
Sudanese medical student Saida was refused a visa to attend a medical workshop in Italy this month. Roaa, a Sudanese climate activist and medical student, was denied a visa to attend a United Nations climate conference in Germany. Both cases highlight the challenges faced by Global South citizens in attending international conferences.
According to a 2021 paper by Harvard Medical School researchers, only 4% of health summits were held in regions where 80% of the world's population lives. Between 1997 to 2019, only 39% of health conferences analyzed had attendees from developing countries.
The IAS is working to address visa issues in order to ensure that more people can have their voices heard at conferences. Far-right and populist parties have made gains in various Western countries, leading to anti-immigrant policies that exacerbate these issues.
Saida and Roaa, along with many other Global South citizens, are urging for change regarding visa issues. It is up to them to keep demanding a more equitable and inclusive global governance on climate and development issues. The gap between who is impacted by global challenges and who can participate in solutions remains wide due to these administrative and political barriers.
- Stricter visa rules experienced by Global South delegates attending United Nations climate conferences and global health forums indicate a potential obstacle towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels).
- The challenges faced by Global South citizens in acquiring visas for international conferences are related to the climate change (SDG 13) and education-and-self-development (SDG 4) sectors, given that these conferences often focus on crucial issues affecting these areas.
- The global news (general-news) and sports communities can play a role in raising awareness about the issues faced by Saida, Roaa, and other Global South citizens as they work towards achieving a more equitable and inclusive participation at international conferences, which ultimately impacts climate change solutions and policy-making (politics).
