Doha Summit Concludes with Call for Action on Social Pledges
The Second World Summit for Social Development ended in Doha on 6 November 2025, urging nations to turn their commitments into concrete measures. Delegates emphasized that the Doha Political Declaration must generate real progress in poverty reduction, decent work, and social inclusion.
Shifting from Promises to Implementation
“Copenhagen taught us 30 years ago that social development and inclusion are essential for strong societies,” said Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly. “We promised to leave no one behind. Social development is not a ‘nice to have’ nor an act of charity. It is in the self-interest of every country.”
At the closing press conference, Baerbock described the summit as a deliberate move from identifying challenges toward applying proven solutions. She cautioned that today’s poverty and hunger stem mainly from political failures and inequality rather than resource scarcity.
“One of the biggest problems is not money as such. It is rather how it is invested,” she said.
Global Participation and Collaborative Efforts
The summit brought together more than 40 heads of state and government, over 230 ministers and senior officials, and nearly 14,000 participants. In addition to high-level plenary sessions and roundtable meetings, more than 250 “solution sessions” explored practical paths to strengthening social protections, broadening healthcare and education access, and fostering dignified employment.
Summary
The Doha Summit united global leaders around actionable social goals, emphasizing that equity and inclusion are cornerstones of sustainable national strength.