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Three decades after a historic summit in Copenhagen, leaders in the Qatari capital warned that inequality remains high, climate shocks are intensifying and almost two billion people still lack social protection, sending the world off track from the 2030 deadline. A renewed commitment The Doha Declaration renews and updates the 1995 Copenhagen commitments, calling for: • Treat poverty eradication, decent work and social inclusion as interconnected priorities.• Expand universal and gender-sensitive access social protectionand equitable access to health and education.• Advance a secure and inclusive digital transformation while fight against disinformation and hate speech.• Ensure that young people, older people, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups significantly shape policies that affect their lives. Voices of urgency and unity Secretary-General António Guterres called The declaration is a “boost for development,” calling for a “people’s plan” to reduce inequality, create decent work, reform global finance and rebuild unity. “This summit is about hope through collective action…let’s deliver on the bold people’s plan that humanity needs and deserves.” Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, exhorted Leaders must “go all the way,” warning that economic growth alone has not ended poverty. She called climate change the “greatest obstacle” to social development and called for debt relief, fairer trade, wider access to technology and the full participation of women. The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said social development is an “existential necessity,” highlighting national efforts to expand opportunities and international support for poverty reduction. He said 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, highlighted that more than 800 million people still live in extreme poverty and that even small shocks – illness, job loss or climate disasters – can plunge millions more into hardship. Transforming consensus into implementation The opening panel, “Strengthening the three pillars of social development», chaired by the leaders of Montenegro and Kyrgyzstan and moderated by ILO Managing Director Gilbert Houngbo focused on turning commitments into actions. Juan Somaviawho chaired the 1995 summit, welcomed the declaration but stressed the urgency: “We are very good at being ambitious, less so at knowing how to implement it.” » Minister of the Netherlands Mariëlle Paul stressed that jobs must be decent to lift people out of poverty. ITUTriangle Luc de C called for fair taxation and global tax cooperation to finance social development and equip workers for the digital and green transitions. Amitabh Behar of Oxfam highlighted rising inequality and called for taxing the very rich and reinvesting in public services. Esther Nagtey, representing young people with disabilitiesemphasized meaningful participation: “We are not the leaders of tomorrow – we are the changemakers of today. » The road to follow The Doha Declaration establishes a common plan; Leaders say achieving results now depends on funding, political will and coordinated implementation – moving from promises to policies that reach people. Stay tuned for Wednesday: Plenary statements, civil society forum, united for social justice, and roundtable discussion reviewing progress and motivating action. Editor’s note: This story is based on reports from the United Nations Meetings Coverage Section, whose press officers attend Summit sessions, monitor statements made by Member States and delegates, and produce summary records and press releases.
