By LI Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

Last November, some 14,000 participants from governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations came together in Doha, Qatar, for the Second World Summit for Social Development, rallying once again around a shared vision for social development. Governments adopted the Doha Political Declaration, reaffirming the values and principles first articulated at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, Denmark, and laying out a people’s plan to reignite momentum.

The 1995 summit marked a turning point in global thinking, placing human well-being, dignity, and social justice at the center of development policy. It enshrined three interconnected pillars for advancing social development – eradicating poverty, promoting employment and decent work, and fostering social integration. Three decades later, the Doha Political Declaration breathes new life into the Copenhagen commitments, reaffirming that a people-centered approach remains the foundation of our collective efforts.

Much more than a restatement of past ideals, the Doha Political Declaration is a springboard for action. The Declaration emphasizes urgency, inclusivity, and accountability. It calls for renewed political will, stronger partnerships, and concrete measures to address persistent and emerging challenges. In it, governments vow to “advance innovative solutions and inclusive international cooperation to fully translate the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action and the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda into concrete actions to achieve social development for all, in particular to the benefit of developing countries.” In essence, Doha is both a reminder of our unfinished business and a roadmap to the future.

Putting people at the center of development

The Doha Political Declaration calls for a holistic and integrated strategy to eradicate all forms of poverty by expanding social protection, ensuring access to education, health, and other essential services, and providing targeted support for vulnerable groups. These commitments respond to the reality that poverty remains the world’s greatest challenge: over 1 billion people endure poverty in different forms and dimensions, and billions more are at constant risk of falling back into it. Nearly four billion people lack any form of social protection.

The Declaration also emphasizes the need for policies that generate decent jobs, guarantee fair wages, and protect workers’ rights, while advancing entrepreneurship, inclusive employment, strengthened labor market institutions, and robust social dialogue. This agenda is shaped by a global labor landscape where livable incomes remain out of reach for many, 60% of workers are in the informal economy, and youth and women are disproportionately concentrated in precarious work. Just over 20% of young people, most of them women, still lack access to education, employment, or training.

The Doha Political Declaration reaffirms that societies thrive when every person is included and able to participate fully. It calls for determined efforts to combat discrimination, promote equality, and strengthen social cohesion. These priorities reflect the persistence of deep inequalities worldwide. Many countries face rising income inequality, entrenched gender gaps, digital divides, and the exclusion of persons with disabilities, older persons, youth, and Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration also identifies migration, digital transformation, and demographic shifts as areas requiring particular attention to ensure that inclusion keeps pace with a rapidly changing global landscape. These priorities drive a comprehensive agenda for progress, ensuring no one is left behind.

Crucially, the Declaration challenges governments to move beyond a sector‑by‑sector, reactive model of social policy. It calls for a whole‑of‑government approach that places social objectives at the center of national development strategies – stressing the mutually reinforcing nature of social priorities and integrating them with economic, environmental, and other actions so that progress in one domain reinforces progress in all others. This shift is essential to delivering the scale of transformation the moment demands.

We are not starting from zero

The Doha Declaration stands on the foundations laid by the Copenhagen Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and connects to many other aligned commitments, agendas, and partnerships. But it pushes us further, weaving these agendas into a coherent force for social progress. It reminds us that the world already possesses the tools and the consensus needed to act. What is required now is the resolve to use them.

It urges a renewed, inclusive spirit of international cooperation and highlights bold initiatives such as the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, and the Global Coalition for Social Justice. Every day, governments, international organizations, and civil society carry the weight of social progress. The Doha Political Declaration challenges all of us to match their effort with greater ambition to integrate, coordinate, and cooperate.

Commission for Social Development: Sustaining momentum

The Commission for Social Development (CSocD), the UN’s primary intergovernmental body on social development, is the central forum for advancing the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration and the Doha Political Declaration. It reviews progress, identifies gaps, and drives collective action. Its 64th session, taking place from 2-10 February 2026, is a pivotal moment to sustain the momentum generated by the Second World Summit for Social Development and to mark the first point of accountability for the promises made in Doha. It will also shape the path toward 2031, when the first formal review of the Doha Political Declaration begins the mandated five-year review cycle.

The urgency is unmistakable. Poverty, inequality, and exclusion demand immediate action. At CSocD64, Member States can demonstrate that Doha’s commitments are becoming real-world outcomes – solutions, partnerships, innovation, investment, and integrated approaches that move societies forward.

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LI Junhua is the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and the head of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), which supports the Commission for Social Development and supported the Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025.