The meeting brought together ministers, senior UN officials, civil society groups and youth representatives to examine how global commitments can be translated into coordinated, inclusive and equitable policies at the national level.
Opening the session, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Lok Bahadur Thapa, highlighted that social development policies are where “resilience, social cohesion and trust are ultimately tested”.
He warned that Rising inequalities, demographic change and rapid digital and ecological transitions are putting increasing pressure on societies around the world.. Responding in an integrated and people-centered manner, he stated, is “not simply a political choice; It is a moral imperative.”
Delegates to the 64th session of the Social Development Commission.
What is the Social Development Commission?
The Commission for Social Development is a functional commission of ECOSOC and the main United Nations intergovernmental body for social development.
Established in 1946, it has helped shape global policy frameworks on poverty eradication, employment, social protection and inclusion, including leading the follow-up to landmark agreements such as the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration and, more recently, the 2025 Doha Political Declaration.
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Over the years, the Commission has promoted progress on universal social protection, decent work for all and international attention to groups at risk of exclusion, including people with disabilities, older people, young people and families.
Its findings have informed national policies, helped develop social protection floors and reinforced the links between social development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Commission meets annually at United Nations Headquarters in New York, usually in February.
Click here for more information about the Commission
A post-Doha moment for social policy
This year’s priority theme – promote social development and social justice through coordinated, equitable and inclusive policies – debates framed throughout the session, reflecting concerns that fragmented policymaking is holding back progress on poverty eradication, decent work and social inclusion.
Addressing delegates, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock stressed that social development is not a secondary concern reserved for calmer times, but “the foundation on which peace is built” and a critical investment in stability.
Ending hunger and poverty, he said, is both a moral obligation and a security issue, noting how deprivation fuels conflict, migration and instability.
From commitment to delivery
In a message to the Commission, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted the shift signaled by the Doha Political Declaration from incremental progress towards more ambitious and coordinated action.
He noted the strong commitment of civil society – with more than 700 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) registered for the session – and urged governments to combine that preparation with concrete results.
“If we draw the map in Copenhagen, Doha and the 2030 Agenda, then the Social Development Commission puts us on the path,” he said.
Click here to watch The message from the Deputy Secretary General
Coordinate policies in a changing world
Throughout the session, speakers repeatedly emphasized the need for greater policy coherence, aligning employment strategies with universal social protection floors, inclusive education and health systems and just transition measures.
The Commission also examined emerging societal challenges, including demographic change, labor market disruption, and the societal impacts of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Delegates heard that while new technologies carry risks, they can also accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if governed in an inclusive and equitable way.
A boy relaxes in a wicker basket while his family threshes harvested wheat.
The mental health of young people in the spotlight
Young people’s voices featured prominently, reflecting the Commission’s emphasis on inclusion. The launch of World Youth Report on Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing It highlighted the growing pressures facing young people, from poverty and inequality to climate stress, conflict and digital harms.
Delegates and youth advocates shared lived experiences and described how uncertainty about the future is eroding confidence and well-being among younger generations, while calling for preventative, community-based and youth-responsive approaches.
Approved resolutions
At the close of the session, Member States endorsed two draft resolutions: one on promoting social development and social justice through coordinated, equitable and inclusive social policies, and another on the social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
The resolutions reaffirm the commitments made at the 1995 Copenhagen Summit and the 2025 Doha Summit, while emphasizing the need to translate global promises into concrete national actions.
The results of the session will feed into upcoming UN processes, including the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July, the broader work of ECOSOC and the General Assembly’s five-year follow-up towards a high-level review of social development commitments in 2031.