The second World Summit for Social Development kicked off in Doha, under the patronage of Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with high-level UN participation and broad international attendance.
The opening session was marked by the presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and several world leaders, three decades after the first summit in Copenhagen.
In his keynote speech, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani declared that social development cannot be achieved without peace, urging the international community to “redouble efforts to support the Palestinian people, rebuild Gaza, and end the war in Sudan.”
For his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres presented sobering figures, noting that 700 million people still live in extreme poverty, and warning that millions worldwide lack any form of social protection. He called for an ambitious global plan to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually to fund climate action and development efforts in the Global South.
The three-day summit aims to renew international commitment to the core pillars of social development: poverty eradication, decent work, and social inclusion.
The sessions are expected to conclude with the adoption of the “Doha Political Declaration”, alongside review meetings assessing the progress on Copenhagen commitments and the 2030 Agenda, in what UN officials describe as a “critical moment” amid escalating global challenges.
