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UN News Special Coverage of Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar

Special Coverage of Second World Summit for Social Development
Doha, Qatar | 4-6 November 2025

Welcome to UN News’ special coverage of the Second World Summit for Social Development, taking place from 4 to 6 November 2025 in Doha, Qatar.

Thirty years after Copenhagen, world leaders gather to renew commitment to social progress, equality and inclusion, addressing poverty, decent work, and opportunity for all.

Bringing together Heads of State and Government, international organizations, civil society, youth, and the private sector, the World Summit will spotlight concrete solutions to today’s most pressing social challenges – from rising inequality and unemployment to the impacts of technology and climate change on communities worldwide.

Amid these global shifts, the Summit aims to reinvigorate the Copenhagen Declaration, accelerate action on the 2030 Agenda, and forge partnerships for a fairer, more resilient world.

From the plenary halls to the parallel forums, UN News will be there – bringing you live updates, expert insights, and stories from those shaping the future of social development.

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Sustainable Ocean Alliance is a youth-led non-profit founded in 2020, working to restore Tanzania’s marine ecosystems.
© UNDP

Investing in youth is the smartest decision to make

UN Interviews

With half the world’s population under 30, sidelining young people is no longer an option. That’s according to UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Felipe Paullier, who champions the determination and creativity of the world’s youth.

He’s been at the World Summit for Social Development in Doha this week, issuing a strong call to action and urging world leaders to put young people at the heart of decision-making.

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6'51"
A park in Bangkok, Thailand, where accessibility and assistive features such as detectable guides and warnings have been installed.
Photo: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Doha summit ends with call to turn social pledges into action

SDGs

The Second World Summit for Social Development concluded in Doha on Thursday with calls for countries to move swiftly from commitments to implementation, ensuring that the Doha Political Declaration delivers measurable progress on poverty reduction, decent work and social inclusion.

Fatma Al-Jassim is an activist and consultant in the field of empowering people of determination - people with disabilities - working with governments, institutions and individuals to drive inclusive development.
UN News/Vibhu Mishra

Doha Social Summit represents ‘hope’ for people with disabilities

UN Interviews

For millions of people with disabilities around the globe, the World Social Summit happening in Doha this week, represents something more powerful than promises – it represents hope.

That’s according to Fatma Al Jassim, who is in Doha representing the Global Disability Innovation Hub, a pioneering research centre in the UK, dedicated to driving disability innovation for a fairer world.

Speaking to UN News’s Abdelmonem Makki, Ms. Al Jassim explained why true inclusion is key to real change. 

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3'58"
Women in India are being encouraged to play a leading role in sustainable development especially on gender equality issues.
UNDP India

Leaving no one behind: Social justice must be at the heart of development

UN Interviews

Nearly 30 years after the landmark Copenhagen Declaration – when governments pledged to make societies fairer and more inclusive – conversations about putting social development back at the centre of the global agenda have taken on renewed importance.

To understand why it’s so critical, and how social protection connects to the broader pursuit of social justice, UN News’s Vibhu Mishra has been speaking to Srinivas Tata, of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

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