Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development: 30 Years of Progress and Challenges Ahead

17 March 2025 – The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), in collaboration with the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), recently commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and its Programme of Action. The event celebrated the historic commitments made during the 1995 World Summit for Social Development and explored how these commitments continue to shape global efforts to promote inclusion, equity, and well-being for all.

Adopted on 12 March 1995, the Copenhagen Declaration was a milestone in placing people at the center of development efforts. It called for eradicating poverty, promoting full employment, and fostering social integration. For the first time, world leaders recognized that economic growth, social development, and environmental protection are interdependent and must be pursued together.

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Reflecting on Three Decades of Change

During the commemorative event, experts highlighted both the progress achieved and the challenges that persist. Since 1995, more than one billion people have escaped extreme poverty, and significant advances have been made in health, education, and gender equality. However, inequalities remain stark, with two-thirds of the world’s population living in countries where income inequality has grown since the mid-1990s.

The 2025 edition of the World Social Report, titled A New Policy Consensus to Accelerate Social Progress, presented a sobering picture of current challenges. Economic insecurity, declining trust in institutions, and deepening social polarization are creating a “vicious cycle” that undermines social cohesion and global solidarity. The report calls for a new policy consensus built on three pillars: equity, through stronger investments in education, health, and social protection; economic security, by creating decent work and safeguarding people during crises; and solidarity, by fostering societal trust and collective action.

Looking Towards the Second World Social Summit

As the international community prepares for the Second World Summit for Social Development, to be held from 4 to 6 November 2025 in Doha, Qatar, the 30th anniversary of the Copenhagen Declaration serves as both a reminder and a rallying point. The upcoming Summit will aim to adopt a concise, action-oriented political declaration to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reaffirm the vision set out in Copenhagen.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his message for the anniversary, emphasized the urgency of renewed multilateral efforts: “Together we can build a better world for all humanity. This anniversary is an opportunity to drive forward the commitments made in Copenhagen and ensure they remain at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

From Copenhagen to Doha

The commemorative discussions underscored that the principles of the Copenhagen Declaration—people-centered development, fairness, and inclusion—are more relevant today than ever. The challenges of climate change, economic shocks, and technological transformations require collective solutions and stronger international cooperation.

As preparations for the Doha Summit continue, the lessons from the past 30 years will guide efforts to create a renewed social contract—one that prioritizes well-being, inclusivity, and resilience for all generations.