Global Progress on Social Justice: Gains Made, But Inequalities Persist

Thirty years after the landmark Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, the world is wealthier, healthier, and better educated — yet social justice remains unfinished business.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released its first flagship report on social justice, The State of Social Justice: A Work in Progress (2025), providing the most comprehensive global assessment of progress and setbacks since the 1995 World Summit for Social Development.

The report finds that extreme poverty has fallen from 39 percent of the global population in 1995 to 10 percent today, child labour has dropped by more than half, and over 50 percent of the world’s population is now covered by some form of social protection. At the same time, educational completion rates and labour productivity have risen sharply, pointing to measurable advances in people’s lives.

Yet the report warns that persistent inequalities, eroding trust in institutions, and slow progress in key areas threaten to undermine these gains. Today, the top 1 percent controls nearly 20 percent of income and 38 percent of wealth, while gender and disability pay gaps remain entrenched. Informality continues to affect 58 percent of workers, and millions still face barriers to decent work and fair opportunities.

Four Pillars for Social Justice

The ILO highlights four foundational pillars to guide action:

• Fundamental human rights and capabilities: ensuring freedom, dignity, and labour rights for all.

• Equal access to opportunities: removing barriers to education, training, and decent work.

• Fair distribution: guaranteeing a just share of the benefits of economic growth.

• Fair transitions: managing environmental, digital, and demographic changes so that no one is left behind.

A Call to Action Ahead of Doha

The report underlines that incremental reforms are no longer enough. Bold and coordinated global action is needed, anchored in human rights, fair distribution, and inclusive policymaking.

As governments, civil society, and international organizations prepare for the Second World Summit for Social Development (Doha, 4–6 November 2025), the findings of this report provide an urgent reminder: social justice is not only a moral imperative, but also the foundation of peace, stability, and sustainable progress worldwide.

The Summit offers a pivotal opportunity to forge consensus and accelerate commitments — ensuring that dignity, opportunity, justice, and inclusion truly become a reality for all.

Read the full report: ILO – The State of Social Justice: A Work in Progress