Doha Summit Concludes with Urgent Call to Action
The Second World Summit for Social Development ended in Doha on 6 November 2025, urging countries to swiftly transform commitments into concrete actions. The goal is to ensure the Doha Political Declaration generates measurable advances in poverty reduction, decent work, and social inclusion.
Key Messages from the Summit
At the closing press conference, Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, highlighted the summit as a “deliberate shift” from identifying challenges to implementing proven solutions.
“Copenhagen taught us 30 years ago that social development and inclusion are essential for strong societies. 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.”
Baerbock emphasized that hunger and poverty today stem not from scarcity, but from conflict, inequality, and political failures. She stressed,
“One of the biggest problems is not money as such. It is rather how it is invested.”
Participation and Activities
- More than 40 Heads of State and Government participated.
- Over 230 ministers and senior officials attended.
- Nearly 14,000 participants engaged in the event.
- The summit featured over 250 “solution sessions” focusing on practical strategies.
The sessions exchanged innovative methods to broaden social protection, enhance healthcare and education access, and promote employment that upholds human dignity.
Summary
The Doha summit emphasized moving from promises to action, focusing on inclusive social progress as a global priority tied to justice and effective investment.