Oxfam protest and Geneva clashes set stage for G7 Summit
Key Takeaways
- Oxfam used giant caricatures of G7 leaders and symbolic overflowing bins to highlight concerns over aid cuts, climate finance and human rights.
- Around 20,000 protesters marched in Geneva ahead of the summit, with clashes breaking out between demonstrators and riot police.
- Security has been heightened around the G7 gathering, with thousands of police officers and military personnel deployed in France and Switzerland.
Campaigners accuse leaders of abandoning key commitments as thousands rally ahead of gathering in France
The G7 summit opened under pressure on Sunday, June 14, as anti-poverty campaigners staged a symbolic protest in France while large demonstrations in nearby Geneva ended in clashes with police.
In Evian-les-Bains, where leaders of the world's leading democracies are meeting from June 15 to 17, Oxfam unveiled oversized caricatures of G7 leaders to highlight what it described as failures to meet commitments on climate action, development aid and global inequality.
Demonstrators dressed as leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The protesters surrounded three overflowing bins filled with discarded files labelled "human rights", "gender equality" and "climate", symbolising what Oxfam said was the neglect of key global issues.
The organisation said the demonstration aimed to call attention to unmet promises on development assistance, climate finance and efforts to reduce inequality.
Oxfam also warned that cuts to international aid were undermining responses to humanitarian crises, including conflicts and displacement in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At the same time, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Geneva as part of wider protests linked to the summit.
Around 20,000 people took part in a march through the Swiss city, which began peacefully before clashes broke out between protesters and riot police.
Footage showed tear gas filling the streets as demonstrators burned rubbish bins and threw objects at police officers.
The protest was held in Geneva after French authorities did not grant permits for demonstrations near the summit venue in Evian-les-Bains.
The G7 summit is also expected to bring together senior European Union officials and invited representatives from countries including Brazil, Canada and Turkey.
Security has been significantly increased ahead of the gathering. According to media reports, Switzerland has deployed around 4,000 military personnel, while France has mobilised approximately 8,000 police officers.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
