2025 Civil Society Forum

The 2025 Civil Society Forum, hosted at CSocD63, aimed to integrate grassroots voices, encourage intergenerational collaboration, and strengthen civil society’s role in shaping the global social development agenda. The speakers focused on the importance of social inclusion, solidarity, and cohesion — following the CSocD63 priority theme — while also presenting strategies on how civil society can effectively contribute to the upcoming World Summit on Social Development. 

Key messages and takeaways 

Social justice and inclusion

Various speakers emphasized that the foundation of social resilience lies in ensuring decent work for all. Speakers also stressed the importance of a right to advocacy, arguing that it plays a vital role in civil society as it pushes for policies that facilitate social inclusion at all levels. Further, advocating against inequality needs to be recognized as a shared responsibility, and advocates should work together to address the root causes behind global challenges — such as bridging the digital divide and minimizing extreme wealth disparities.

Role of civil society

The event highlighted how civil society’s role in monitoring social inclusion and ensuring well-rounded advocacy is critical. Civil society listens to diverse voices, values innovative solutions, and acknowledges that every generation has something valuable to offer. Speakers noted that Indigenous peoples must be at the forefront of these discussions, as they play a crucial role in discussions on environmental sustainability and promoting community well-being. Their knowledge and leadership are vital in shaping such policies for future generations. Speakers also brought attention to the need for a full integration of elderly persons in social and economic policies and programs. 

The global agenda

Finally, speakers stressed that the 2030 SDGs must be implemented with urgency and accountability. The key to these efforts is to ensure that human rights complaints are addressed and universal protection is prioritized. Speakers argued that we must investigate structural and systemic drivers of exclusion and inequality and not be afraid of restructuring outdated societal systems that no longer support social inclusion for all. One speaker noted that the global financial system must be restructured to ensure equal access to services and resources, with a special focus on the needs of the most vulnerable.

Speakers

• Marides Santos, Co-Chair
• Liana Almony, Chair of NGO Committee, Deputy Director
• Ambassador Krzysztof Maria Szczerski, Representative of Poland
• Navid Hanif
• Cynthia Samuel Olonjuwon
• Mathias Jobelius
• Johannes Butscher
• Sophie De Smedt
• Ruth Monique
• Anne Agar
• Alexia Gaube
• Roberto Borrero
• Sylvia Beales
• Kimberly Happich Moloche
• Cecilia Schirmeister
• Omar Hilale
• Anita Thomas
• Thomas Taylor Di Pietro

Related links

• Learn more about the 2025 Civil Society Forum’s CSocD63 sessions here.
• Watch the live webcast of the event here.

Source: UN DESA