The United States’ presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) is being seen as a chance to promote human rights, according to advocates who spoke at a congressional hearing on March 5. The U.S. took over the rotating presidency in December, and the next summit is set for Miami in December 2026.
Representatives Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), both co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, led the hearing. The commission aims to support international human rights efforts within Congress.
Smith highlighted the G20 Religion Forum, known as R20, which was started in 2022 by Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama, an Islamic organization. “The R20 was organized by Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim organization, led by Yahya Staquf,” Smith said. “Nahdlatul Ulama has undertaken significant efforts to promote a pluralistic and tolerant vision of Islam and to marginalize extremist ideologies that fuel violence and terror.”
Mary Ann Glendon, professor emerita at Harvard Law School and former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, was among those testifying at the hearing. She noted concerns about the current state of universal human rights and suggested that interreligious dialogue could be helpful. “I would argue that the R20 at this particular moment would be a most valuable addition to the program of the G20,” Glendon said, adding that such dialogue could help prevent “the use of religion as a pretext for violence and violence in the name of religion.”
Glendon further explained that R20 introduced discussion among leaders from all major religions about issues important for economic growth and stability, such as preventing violence. “The R20 brought a group of major religious leaders to frankly admit and discuss with each other ways in which religion, concretely, can be part of the solution to the world’s problems and not a contributor to the problem,” she said.
McGovern pointed out that when Saudi Arabia held the G20 Presidency in 2020 it made some reforms regarding women’s freedom but said these did not lead to significant improvements in broader human rights for Saudi citizens. “The Saudi example also reminds us that global forums can be used by governments to polish their image and whitewash serious human rights violations,” he said.
He also urged self-examination for the U.S., mentioning concerns about immigration enforcement near places like churches. He referred to conversations with his parish priest about fears among parishioners regarding attending Mass due to immigration enforcement actions.
A group of U.S. bishops from border regions recently issued a statement before President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address during his second term calling for reforms in immigration enforcement. They asked for sensitive locations like houses of worship, schools, and hospitals to be protected from such actions.
Glendon responded: “I think we would all agree that the United States should model compliance” with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948. She cited her work on a 2020 State Department report stating that America should act as “a champion of human rights” abroad while modeling them domestically as well.
“But the question here before the House is: How do we get to these results?” Glendon asked. “I think a great start would be for the United States presidency of the G20 to showcase some of these ideas that we have been discussing.”
Chris Smith currently serves as representative for New Jersey’s 4th district in Congress after first taking office in 1981 (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000522). He was born in Rahway, New Jersey in 1953 and lives in Manchester Township. Smith graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975.
This article was published on March 5, 2026 and can be found online at: https://www.osvnews.com/us-presidency-of-g20-an-opportunity-to-advance-human-rights-advocates-say/
