Doha: World Summit opens with renewed commitment to accelerate social progress
Three decades after a landmark summit in Copenhagen, leaders gathered in Doha, Qatar, to address persistent global challenges. Despite progress, inequality remains a pressing issue, climate shocks are intensifying, and social protection is still lacking for nearly two billion people, pushing the world off track for the 2030 deadline.
The Doha Declaration, a pivotal document, builds upon the 1995 Copenhagen commitments, emphasizing interconnected priorities: poverty eradication, decent work, and social inclusion. It calls for universal, gender-responsive social protection, equitable access to health and education, and safe, inclusive digital transformation while combating disinformation and hate speech. The declaration also emphasizes the meaningful participation of marginalized groups, including youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and other underrepresented communities in shaping policies that affect their lives.
Urgent voices echoed through the summit, urging leaders to take action. Secretary-General António Guterres described the declaration as a "booster shot for development," advocating for a "people's plan" to reduce inequality, create decent work, reform global finance, and rebuild unity. He emphasized the summit's potential to inspire hope through collective action, urging leaders to deliver on their promises.
Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, echoed this sentiment, urging leaders to "go the last mile." She highlighted climate change as the "single largest obstacle" to social development, calling for debt relief, fairer trade, broader technology access, and full participation of women. Baerbock's words underscored the need for comprehensive solutions beyond economic growth.
Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani emphasized the existential necessity of social development, citing national efforts to expand opportunities and international support for poverty reduction. He stressed that peace and stability, including support for Palestine and an end to the crisis in Sudan, are essential conditions for social progress.
Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of ECOSOC, shed light on the stark reality of extreme poverty, affecting over 800 million people. He emphasized how even minor shocks, such as illness, job loss, or climate disasters, can push millions more into hardship, underscoring the fragility of progress.
The summit's opening panel, "Strengthening the Three Pillars of Social Development," focused on translating commitments into action. Chaired by leaders from Montenegro and Kyrgyzstan, and moderated by ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo, the panel emphasized the urgency of implementation. Juan Somavia, who chaired the 1995 summit, praised the declaration while stressing the need for swift action, acknowledging the challenge of translating ambitious goals into tangible results.
The Netherlands Minister Mariëlle Paul highlighted the importance of decent jobs in lifting people out of poverty, while ITU's Luc Triangle called for fair taxation and global tax cooperation to fund social development and support workers through digital and green transitions. Oxfam's Amitabh Behar emphasized the rising inequality and advocated for taxing the super-rich to reinvest in public services.
Esther Nagtey, representing youth with disabilities, emphasized the importance of meaningful participation, stating, "We are not the leaders of tomorrow – we are the changemakers of today."
The Doha Declaration sets a shared plan, but leaders emphasize that delivering on these commitments now depends on financing, political will, and coordinated implementation. The road ahead requires translating pledges into policies that reach and benefit people, ensuring that the summit's promises become a reality.
