With less than five months to go before the Second World Summit (WSS) for Social Development in November 2025, global civil society leaders are urging United Nations Member States to adopt a transformative Political Declaration—one that moves beyond lofty aspirations and delivers concrete, measurable commitments to tackle inequality, poverty, and social injustice.

GCAP Briefing Political Declaration of the World Social Summit in English

GCAP Briefing Political Declaration of the World Social Summit in Spanish

GCAP Briefing Political Declaration of the World Social Summit in French

This summit—being held in Doha, Qatar—comes exactly 30 years after the historic 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, and represents a once-in-a-generation chance to re-centre people in development, confront global crises, and set a course for inclusive and rights-based progress.

“This is a turning point. Governments must demonstrate bold political will to reduce inequalities, uphold human rights and deliver social justice for all. A declaration without enforceable action would be a betrayal of global communities facing crisis,” said the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) in a briefing statement released today.

The World in Crisis: Why Action is Urgent

The briefing highlights the intersecting global crises—armed conflict, climate change, mass displacement, pandemic fallout, AI disruption and declining trust in democratic governance—that have eroded livelihoods and well-being globally.

Today, over 65% of the global population lives in countries where income inequality is rising, while over half of the world’s people lack access to social protection (ILO, 2023). Meanwhile, authoritarian restrictions on civic space and shrinking public services threaten to leave millions behind.

“The Political Declaration must set out a clear path for inclusive societies, gender justice, universal services, and global solidarity,” says GCAP.

Eleven Priority Action Areas for the Qatar Declaration

GCAP has proposed 11 critical themes to be included in the Political Declaration. Each priority includes a clear policy roadmap and accountability mechanisms to ensure implementation.

1. Inequality

• The summit must earn the title of the “Inequality Summit” by adopting National Inequality Reduction Plans with time-bound targets.
• Commit to universal, publicly financed services—healthcare, education, housing, care, and social protection—delivered by accountable states.

2. Social Protection

• Only 53% of the global population has any social protection coverage, with only 18% in Africa (ILO, 2023).
• GCAP calls for Universal Social Protection Floors by 2030, with national financing plans in place by 2028, supported by a Global Social Protection Fund.

3. Gender Equality

• Women perform 76% of unpaid care work, earn 16% less than men, and are underrepresented in decision-making (ILO, 2018).
• The Declaration must formalise care work, guarantee universal gender-transformative social protection, and uphold sexual and reproductive rights.

4. Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

• Billions remain without access to healthcare, with only 43% of UHC commitments reflected in law.
• GCAP calls for inclusive, participatory UHC systems and dedicated funding for mental health and marginalised groups.

5. Education

• Over 250 million children and youth lack access to school, while funding gaps for SDG4 reach US$100 billion per year.
• The Declaration must commit to equitable investment in public education, teacher support, protection of learning spaces, and gender-inclusive access.

6. Discrimination and Exclusion

• Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD)—numbering over 300 million—continue to face systemic exclusion.
• GCAP demands their explicit recognition, dedicated financing for their participation, and disaggregated data collection to measure inclusion.

7. Ageing

• By 2050, 16% of the world will be over age 65. Yet, older people face exclusion, ageism, and lack of support.
• The Declaration must call for the adoption of a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons and inclusion in social protection, data, and services.

8. Ending Austerity & Privatization

• Nearly 140 countries are cutting public budgets and reducing welfare due to austerity, worsening inequality (Oxfam, 2023).
• GCAP urges progressive taxation, debt restructuring, and an end to public service privatization.

9. Debt and ODA

• Public debt in developing countries hit US$29 trillion in 2023, with 3.3 billion people living in countries that spend more on debt than health or education.
• The Declaration must include debt cancellation, recommitment to the 0.7% ODA target, and negotiation of a UN Sovereign Debt Convention.

10. Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction

• The 1.5°C threshold has been breached. Climate impacts are already devastating marginalised communities, depleting resources, and escalating disasters.
• GCAP calls for adaptive social protection integrated with just climate transition and services for affected populations.

11. Artificial Intelligence

• AI could displace 40% of jobs by 2030, especially administrative work done mostly by women (McKinsey, 2023).
• GCAP urges taxation of AI-generated profits, guaranteed income and retraining for displaced workers, and democratic oversight of AI systems. 

A Declaration for People and Planet

The Qatar Declaration, according to GCAP, must be more than a reaffirmation—it must be a blueprint for action, rooted in human rights and social justice. It must respond to today’s crises by building on the Pact for the Future (2024), the 2030 Agenda, and the vision of Copenhagen (1995), while instituting review mechanisms every 3–5 years to hold states accountable.

“This is our chance to restore hope and fairness to a world in turmoil. Let Doha 2025 be remembered as the moment global leaders chose courage, equity, and action,” the statement concludes.

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