Welcome to the United Nations
Renewing Global Commitment to Social Development
From 4 to 6 November 2025, world leaders will gather in Doha, Qatar for the Second World Summit for Social Development, a historic moment to renew political will for the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, and to advance a shared vision of justice, equality, and inclusion.
Thirty years after Copenhagen, progress is undeniable: 1.5 billion people have escaped extreme poverty, more children are attending school, and life expectancy has risen from 66 to over 73 years. Yet, this progress remains uneven and fragile. As of 2023, 808 million people still live in extreme poverty, and over 1.1 billion face multidimensional deprivations in health, education, and living standards. Inequalities continue to widen, while trust in institutions and social cohesion are under strain.
The Summit offers a pivotal opportunity to rebuild solidarity and chart a renewed path forward. Its three overarching objectives are to:
- Recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration and assess gaps in social development;
- Promote social justice anchored in a strengthened and effective multilateral system; and
- Advance people-centred, integrated approaches to accelerate social progress.
At the heart of the Summit lies the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration, which will reaffirm shared values and set out concrete actions across key areas:
- Poverty Eradication: Comprehensive strategies to tackle multidimensional poverty, hunger, and malnutrition through stronger social protection, sustainable financing, and inclusive data systems.
- Decent Work and Economic Transformation: Policies promoting job creation, formalization of informal work, and skills development for green and digital transitions.
- Social Integration: Efforts to combat discrimination, promote intergenerational solidarity, and empower marginalized groups, including older persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and migrants.
- Food Security and Health: Scaling up resilient food systems and ensuring universal health coverage with mental health as a priority.
- Digital Transformation and AI: Harnessing technology for inclusion while safeguarding human rights and closing connectivity divides.
- Climate Resilience: Aligning social protection and disaster risk reduction with the Paris Agreement and Sendai Framework.
- Gender Equality: Removing barriers to women’s participation, redistributing unpaid care work, and combating gender-based violence.
- Financing for Social Development: Implementing the Sevilla Commitment and reforming international financial systems to mobilize resources for social progress.
Facts and figures underline the urgency: 58% of the global workforce remains in informal employment, 138 million children still engage in child labour, and 300 million people are unhoused. Women earn 20% less than men, while 1.3 billion persons with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers to full participation.
The Summit’s impact will extend beyond Doha. A high-level review in 2031 will assess progress, while the Commission for Social Development (CSocD) will serve as the main platform for follow-up. The United Nations system, international financial institutions, civil society, youth, and the private sector are all called upon to act together.
As the world faces intersecting crises, from climate change to digital disruption, the Summit is a call to action to place people once again at the centre of development. It is an invitation to renew hope, deliver concrete results, and reaffirm the collective commitment to dignity and equality for all.
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