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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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Participants at the World Summit in the "Spider" foyer of the Qatar National Convention Centre.
Zoom Arts & Design Doha

Doha: World Summit opens with pledge to speed social progress

SDGs

The Second World Summit for Social Development opened in Doha on Tuesday with the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration – a consensus pledge to accelerate action on poverty eradication, decent work and social inclusion, and to put the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track.

The SDGs focus on eliminating poverty and providing people with opportunities to prosper.
© WHO/Anna Kari

Doha Social Summit: Renewed commitment to end poverty

UN Interviews

Thirty years after the first World Social Summit in Copenhagen, global leaders have reconvened in Doha to assess progress and chart a path forward on poverty eradication and social development.

Over the past three decades, 1.5 billion people have been lifted out of poverty, and global life expectancy has increased by nearly seven years.

However, significant challenges remain, with an estimated 800 million people still living in extreme poverty, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Audio
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