About the Summit | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

Thirty years after the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, the global community comes together once again in Doha, Qatar, from 4 to 6 November 2025, for the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2). In a world facing rising inequality, demographic shifts, and rapid technological transformation, the need for renewed commitments to social progress has never been greater.

Building on the 10 commitments of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development and the Copenhagen Declaration, this summit seeks to accelerate action on poverty eradication, social inclusion, and employment generation, ensuring that no one is left behind in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

In Doha, leaders will redefine strategies for social progress, strengthen global cooperation, and promote inclusive policies that create equitable opportunities for all, fostering societies that are more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.

The Summit will provide a critical platform for dialogue, cooperation, and solutions to shape the future of social development in the context of contemporary global challenges, and will bring together governments, international organizations, the UN system, civil society, cooperatives, academia, the private sector, and experts to strengthen international cooperation for inclusive social development.

Our vision is to build a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable world, where everyone is included, and no one is left behind.

WSSD2 Leadership

HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani

H.E. Ambassador Ms. Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations

Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani is the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in New York, a position she has held since October 2013. She previously served as Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and as General Consul to the Swiss Federation from 2011 to 2013. During this time, she represented Qatar on key international bodies including the UN Human Rights Council, the Executive Councils of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Her diplomatic career began at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, where she served in various capacities, including as Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York from 2010 to 2011, and earlier as a Counselor at Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the UN. Before joining the Foreign Ministry, she led initiatives on social policy and children’s rights as Director of the Department of the Rights of the Child at Qatar’s Supreme Council for Family Affairs.

Ambassador Alya has played a leading role in advancing Qatar’s multilateral diplomacy. She has authored and facilitated numerous landmark UN General Assembly resolutions, including those establishing World Autism Awareness Day, the International Day of Democracy, and advancing the right to education in emergencies. She also led efforts on resolutions promoting family well-being and improving coordination in disaster response.

She served on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2007–2009), was Vice Chair of ECOSOC’s Committee on NGOs (2008–2011), and was appointed President of the Human Rights Council’s Social Forum in 2013. In recognition of her leadership and vision, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2013.

Ambassador Alya holds a Master’s degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Qatar University.

Mr. Li Junhua Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Department of Economic and Social Affairs

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 25 July 2022 the appointment of Li Junhua of China as the next Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. He will succeed Liu Zhenmin of China to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his commitment and dedicated service to the Organization.

Mr. Li brings to the position perspectives and visions on fostering multilateral economic and social cooperation, with a commitment to engage with all parties to further implement the 2030 Agenda including dedication to serve member states. He has contributed to numerous meetings of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, as well as other multilateral meetings including the G20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM), BRICS etc.

He is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Italy and San Marino. Prior to this, he was Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (2013-2019).

Mr. Li began his career at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1985. Since then, he has served in various capacities, including as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Myanmar (2010-2012), Deputy Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences (2008-2010), Minister Counselor (Political), Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations (2003-2008), Division Director and Counselor in charge of UN General Assembly and Security Council Affairs (2001-2003), Second and First Secretary, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nation (1997-2001). Third and Second Secretary, the Department of International Organizations and Conferences (1992-1997) and Assistant to the Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of China to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok (1986-1992).

Mr. Li has a Master’s in International Public Policy, School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University. He speaks Chinese and English.

WSSD2 Co-Facilitators for the Intergovernmental Negotiations

H.E. Ms. Sophie De Smedt Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations

Between 2020 and her most recent appointment, Ms. Smedt served as Director-General for Personnel and Organization, overseeing human resources, buildings and logistics at her country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2019 to 2020, she was assigned to assist the Secretary-General at the Ministry. Her prior diplomatic experience includes serving as Consul General in Istanbul, Turkey, from 2016 to 2019; Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy in Beijing, China, from 2012 to 2016; and Counsellor of Direction of Economic Interests at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2012. She also held the position of Deputy Head of Mission at her country’s Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 2007 to 2009; and First Secretary at the Embassy in Rome, Italy, from 2003 to 2007.

From 1999 to 2001, Ms. Smedt worked as a Policy Officer at the EuropeAid Cooperation Office within the European Commission, following an academic career as a Professor of French Language and Literature at the University of Szeged, Hungary, from 1997 to 1999. She holds a master’s degree in interpretation and translation from the University of Brussels.

H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations

H.E. Hilale has been Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York since April 2014. He is a career diplomat who has served in various posts around the world. Before his appointment in New York, he served as the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN in Geneva starting in 2008. From 2005 to 2008, he served as the General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

From 1996 to 2001, he served in several diplomatic posts. including as Ambassador to Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia. Before that he served as a Member of the Cabinet of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and a Member of the International Committee of Legal Experts, in charge of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Chemical Weapons. From 1976 to 1991, Ambassador Hilale served in the Moroccan Embassies in Algiers, Monrovia, Addis Ababa and Geneva. Ambassador Hilale graduated from the Mohammed V University in Rabat in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.