Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
I thank the organizers for this opportunity to brief you on the outcome and follow-up to the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in November 2025.
Representatives from 175 countries convened in Doha to advance the long-standing commitment to put people at the centre of development.
More than 40 world leaders and 200 Ministers gathered to reassert the global commitment to social development. This was the most significant intergovernmental gathering on social development in 30 years —since the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen.
The core outcome was the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration by consensus, an achievement of both symbolic and substantive importance.
Excellencies,
In agreeing to the declaration, Member States recommitted to the principles set out in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. They recognized that poverty eradication, decent work, and social inclusion are not only moral imperatives but mutually reinforcing pillars of stable and prosperous societies.
This renewed commitment is more than a reaffirmation of principles; it is a recognition of the evolving global context for social development.
The Declaration acknowledges the urgent need to reduce uncertainty, insecurity and inequality, and to tackle technological disruption and climate change, which exacerbate social vulnerabilities.
The Summit took place as societies across the world face deep challenges. Despite progress in many social indicators, 60 per cent of people regard life as worse or the same compared to 50 years ago, according to data from the World Social Report 2025.
Close to 60 per cent of respondents are “struggling” while 12 per cent are described as “suffering”.
Why? As the Latin American and Caribbean region knows all too well, inequalities remain stubbornly high and economic insecurity is widespread. These forces are putting pressure on people and societies, sowing distrust and political anger.
Against this backdrop, the Summit provided a platform to make integrated policymaking a reality and address the pressing social challenges of our time.
Member States emphasized the need to strengthen universal social protection, expand access to decent work, address labour market insecurities, advance gender equality and disability inclusion, and empower women, youth, and older persons.
The Declaration calls for reforms to the international financial architecture to allow developing countries to invest in their people with greater fiscal space and less structural vulnerability.
This call builds on the Sevilla Commitment adopted a few months earlier, which set out an ambitious set of actions across three strategic focus areas:
- One, scaling up investment to close the $4 trillion SDG investment gap, including by tripling MDB lending,
- Two, addressing the debt challenges in developing countries, and
- Three, reforming the international financial architecture to strengthen the global financial safety net and increase the voice of developing countries.
Crucially, the Declaration calls for a renewed commitment to multilateral action for social development.
Throughout the Summit, governments and stakeholders called for integrated approaches, including linking education, employment, climate action, and social protection.
They emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust in institutions through transparency, participation, and data-driven policy.
And they also stressed the need for a follow-up process with clear milestones and review cycles.
The Declaration delivers on these requests.
It establishes a five-year review cycle in the General Assembly, beginning in 2031, and reaffirms the Commission for Social Development as the central platform for follow-up.
The most recent 64th session of the Commission for Social Development underscored broad convergence around the Doha Political Declaration as a unifying framework to accelerate inclusive, equitable, and rights-based social development.
Excellencies,
The UN system stands ready to work with governments, civil society, trade unions, the private sector, and other stakeholders to translate the aspirations of Doha into analytical guidance, technical support and capacity-building.
For example, at the request of CARICOM, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs will convene a series of workshops for government officials across the Caribbean to take stock of progress, identify persistent and emerging challenges, and advance concrete, actionable policy recommendations.
At the same time, my Department, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, continues to support countries around the world in strengthening national social policies through targeted capacity-building and technical assistance projects.
We are also working with the Resident Coordinators, through the Development Coordination Office, to spotlight national progress and solutions at global fora, including at the Commission for Social Development.
Moreover, my Department will work closely with ECLAC and other Regional Economic Commissions, to support their critical mandated role to assess progress, gaps and opportunities for action towards the implementation of the Doha Political Declaration.
Yet ultimately, the success of the Doha agenda will depend on whether it reflects the realities and the daily aspirations of people.
I therefore urge all of us here – Governments, civil society, academia, the private sector and the UN system – to turn the commitments of Doha into tangible progress: to end poverty, reduce inequality, expand decent work, and build inclusive, people-centred societies that leave no one behind.
Thank you.