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 programs with a gender perspective. social protectionand equitable access to health and education.
• Drive a secure and inclusive digital transformation while Counter misinformation and hate speech..
• Ensure that young people, older people, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups meaningfully shape policies that affect their lives.
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Voices of urgency and unity
Secretary General António Guterres He called the declaration a “drive for development,” and called 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 make the bold people’s plan that humanity needs and deserves a reality.”
Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, He urged leaders to “walk the last mile” and warned that economic growth alone has not ended poverty. He named climate change as the “biggest obstacle” to social development and called for debt relief, fairer trade, greater access to technology and the full participation of women.
Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar He said social development is an “existential need,” pointing to 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, He noted that more than 800 million people still live in extreme poverty and that even the smallest crises – illness, job loss or climate disasters – can push millions more into hardship.
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Turn consensus into implementation
The opening panel, “Strengthening the three pillars of social development”, chaired by leaders from Montenegro and Kyrgyzstan and moderated by ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo, focused on turning commitments into actions.
Juan Somaviawho chaired the 1995 summit, praised the declaration but stressed the urgency: “We are very good at being ambitious, not so much at how to implement it.”
The Minister of the Netherlands, Mariëlle Paul He stressed that jobs must be decent to lift people out of poverty.
CSI Luc Triangle He called for fair taxation and global tax cooperation to finance social development and equip workers for digital and green transitions.
Oxfam’s Amitabh Behar highlighted growing inequality and urged taxing the super-rich and reinvesting in public services.
Esther Nagtey, representing young people with disabilitieshighlighted the significant participation: “We are not the leaders of tomorrow, we are the agents of change of today.”
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The road ahead
The Doha declaration establishes a shared plan; Leaders say delivery 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 round table that reviews progress and promotes action.
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Editor’s note:
This story is based on reports from the United Nations Meetings Coverage Section, whose press officers attend Summit sessions, follow statements delivered by Member States and delegates, and produce summary minutes and press releases.