President of Nepal Ram Chandra Poudel said inclusion, justice and social protection are the “bedrocks of social development” in Nepal.
Addressing the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday President Poudel has further said that “Nepal’s Constitution embraces the major principles of the Copenhagen Declaration, with inclusive governance and the empowerment of marginalized communities central to our national endeavours.”
“Since 1995, poverty has halved, progress towards the SDGs exceeds the global average, over 95 per cent of the population has access to clean energy, gender parity has improved, and maternal and child mortality rates have dropped,” he stressed.
The Summit will be meaningful when the international community supports the development efforts of developing countries.
Earlier, His Highness the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani inaugurated the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) 2025, Tuesday at the Qatar National Convention Center that will take place from 4-6 November 2025.
The first World Summit for Social Development was kicked off from 6 to 12 March 1995 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In his inaugural address Amir of Qatar Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said “The State of Qatar takes pride in hosting this summit, which comes thirty years after the first Summit held in Copenhagen in 1995. It is an event that affirms the spirit of solidarity and international cooperation in addressing the challenges that hinder economic growth, and slow down the achievement of human development goals, which will threaten social peace,” stated the Qatar News Agency (QNA).
“Our hosting of this summit stems from our firm conviction in the importance of collective action on issues that should not be contentious in order to address common global challenges paving the way toward a future of greater prosperity and justice for all,” Amir said.
“Social development is not a matter of choice—it is a fundamental necessity. As we commemorate the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations this year, this summit provides us with an opportunity to renew our commitment to its Charter, to multilateral cooperation within its institutions, and to redouble our efforts to solidify the values of social development as an essential foundation for achieving security, prosperity, and stability for all,” highlighted the Amir QNA writes.
“The State of Qatar takes pride in its strong strategic partnership with the United Nations, and has never faltered in fulfilling its commitments. It ranks among the leading supporters of the UN across various domains,” Amir lauds adding, “The State of Qatar will remain an active partner in the international community and a supporter of social development efforts through its contributions and assistance to many countries and communities via Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Charity, and others.”
“Social development can never be achieved without peace and stability. We believe that lasting peace is just peace. We can make this summit a pivotal milestone, ensuring that our deliberations lead to practical and effective steps that contribute to transforming the slogans of peace, social development, and prosperity into a tangible reality for all, without discrimination,” Qatari Amir concluded, QNA added.
President of the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa said that the world looks to the future through the Doha Declaration, as a means to strengthen social development, noting that the declaration is the result of comprehensive and important international negotiations.
In his address at the Summit’s opening session Mr. Thapa pointed out that over the past 30 years, the world has witnessed great social and economic progress, with nations becoming healthier, better educated, and more connected even at the pace of only five goals or about 35 percent have been met so far.
ECOSOC will continue to work to ensure that the Doha Declaration translates into tangible progress in people’s lives, calling for moving forward in unity and determination to build societies founded on dignity, equality of opportunity, and inclusion for all, shed light Mr. Thapa adding, as more than 800 million people around the world still live in extreme poverty facing additional challenges of job losses. He also noted that 80 percent of workers in Africa and 70 percent in Asia suffer from these conditions.
The prime goal of the WSSD 2025 Doha was to build societies that are more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable where world leaders gathered to redefine strategies for social progress, strengthen global partnerships, and promote inclusive policies that foster equitable opportunities for all.
The summit was attended by over 40 Heads of the States and Governments, 170 ministerial-level representatives, High level senior officials of the various governments and officials from regional and international organisations and institutions.
The summit that brought over 14,000 distinguished personalities from the world will serve as a pivotal platform to strengthen international co-operation for inclusive social development.
Meanwhile, according to the UN News, against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and rising inequalities, world leaders at the Second World Summit for Social Development on Tuesday adopted the Doha Political Declaration, signalling renewed global commitment to building more just and inclusive societies.
The adoption of the Declaration marks a shared pledge by governments to tackle poverty, create decent work, combat discrimination, expand access to social protection, and protect human rights.
It also emphasises that social development is not only a moral imperative, but also a precondition for peace, stability and sustainable growth.
Speaking after the adoption, President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock emphasised that Doha must “go the last mile” in ensuring that no one is left behind.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that progress on the SDGs is too slow, with several targets stalled or reversed.
“The Doha Political Declaration represents a booster shot for development,” he said and stressed the urgency of reforming the global financial architecture to deliver on the promise first made in Copenhagen,” he said.
(Sources with credit: Gulf Times, QNA, The Peninsula, UN News)
