Welcome to the United Nations
A social perspective on sustainable development, focused on equity, inclusion, social justice and non-discrimination, remains central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is enshrined in the pledge that no one will be left behind, a core commitment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Decision to convene the “World Social Summit” in 2025
On 26 February 2024, in its resolution 78/L.39, the General Assembly decided to convene the “World Social Summit” in 2025 under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development”.
The Second World Summit for Social Development would address the gaps and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action and its implementation and give momentum towards implementing the 2030 Agenda.
At the request of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Philippe Kridelka, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations, and H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations, have been appointed as co-facilitators of the intergovernmental preparatory process leading up to the Summit, consisting of its modalities and outcome.
The outcome should be a short and concise political declaration adopted by consensus, should have a social development approach, and should give momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Recent intergovernmental contributions to the Second World Summit for Social Development
“Social development is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The central pledge of the 2030 Agenda that no one will be left behind is grounded in a social perspective of development, based on equity, social justice and non-discrimination.”
H.E. Ms. RUCHIRA KAMBOJ, Permanent Representative of India
President of the sixty-second session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD) at its opening.
The Road from 1995 to 2025
The 1995 World Summit for Social Development was a milestone in multilateral cooperation, establishing a vision of people-centred development and a global commitment to social development that resonates with us today.
In the decades that followed, humankind achieved unprecedented social progress. Yet, our journey of rapid development and the novel challenges of our fast-changing world have left many people and countries behind. Deep inequalities and extreme poverty persist, decent work is in short supply and a climate crisis looms. Throughout the world, people are feeling increasingly insecure and uncertain about the future.
We are at an inflection point. Insecurity about the future and mistrust of institutions are on the rise, eroding the social fabric and hindering our ability to act collectively to achieve common goals. The root causes of these failures transcend borders and demand collective action. It is time to respond by shaping a socially sustainable development path towards a better future, with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development as our guiding lights.
On the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Member States pledged to strengthen global governance for present and future generations. They requested that the Secretary-General report recommendations to respond to current and future challenges. The Secretary-General responded with his report, Our Common Agenda, a wake-up call to speed up the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and propel the commitments of the UN75 Declaration forward. In some cases, the proposals addressed gaps that have emerged since 2015 that require intergovernmental agreements. Among these, the report proposed that consideration should be given to holding a World Social Summit in 2025.
“This would be an opportunity to hold a different form of global deliberation and to live up to the values, including trust and listening, that underpin the social contract. The Summit outcome could be an update of the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, covering issues such as universal social protection floors, including universal health coverage, adequate housing, education for all and decent work, and give momentum towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,”
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General