UN DESA Policy: From the First to the Second World Summit for Social Development: reclaiming a broad vision of social progress

This UN DESA policy brief revisits the landmark 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, which marked a pivotal moment in global efforts to place people at the centre of development. The Summit established a powerful political consensus around eradicating poverty, promoting full employment, and advancing social integration—anchored in a broader vision of social justice, solidarity, and equality.

As Member States prepare for the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha this November, the brief argues that it is time to revitalize the integrated and people-centred approach first articulated in Copenhagen. It highlights the limitations of fragmented social policy responses and underscores the need for coherent strategies that align macroeconomic and social objectives.

With less than five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, this policy brief offers timely insights into how governments can reclaim a transformative agenda for inclusive and sustainable progress. It calls for bold political action to ensure that social development remains central to the global policy agenda.