Not just dreams, but rights: social justice takes centre stage at Doha summit
- Not just dreams, but rights
- A path to justice
- Human rights at the centre
- Public policies that benefit young people
The push to place social justice at the heart of global policymaking took centre stage at the Second World Summit on Social Development on Wednesday, as leaders gathered at a high-level forum to spur coordinated action on the implementation of the newly adopted Doha Political Declaration.
The Global Coalition for Social Justice Forum brought together ministers, workers' and employers' organisations, UN agencies and civil society to accelerate action on poverty eradication, decent work and social inclusion.
The meeting came at a time described as both hopeful and urgent. Since the coalition's launch in 2023, governments and partners have expanded efforts to close inequalities and strengthen social protections.
Progress has been made in education, life expectancy and gender equality. However, discrimination, exclusion and gaps in labour rights remain deeply entrenched in many countries.
Against this backdrop, the Forum served as a space to share achievements, examine where commitments are falling short, and discuss how to accelerate coordinated efforts to close these gaps.
Not just dreams, but rights
Addressing the event, Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, spoke of social justice not as a vision but as a right.
‘We all have dreams,’ she said, recalling her childhood hopes and the encouragement that hard work could make anything possible.
‘But we know that this is not true for everyone. The world, as it is, is not equal. It is not fair. The world is not fair.’
She warned that millions of young people around the world still see their futures limited by poverty, lack of education, conflict and discrimination.
‘These are not just dreams. They are rights,’ she said, calling on governments, the private sector and civil society to dismantle systemic barriers: ‘We have to make sure we end these injustices once and for all.’
A path to justice
Speaking to UN News on the sidelines, the director of the Social Development Division of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Srinivas Tata, highlighted the importance of the moment.
‘It's about putting social development back at the centre,’ he said. ‘Social justice is the goal; social protection is one of the means to get there.’
Asia and the Pacific have lifted millions out of poverty in recent decades, he noted, but inequality remains high, populations are ageing rapidly and climate change is deepening vulnerabilities.
To help address these pressures, the Division works with governments to identify who is being left behind and how to reach them. Its Social Protection Toolbox includes a simulation tool to show the benefits of expanding social protection.
‘It shows that social protection is not a cost (...) it is an investment.’
Human rights at the centre
While the Division highlighted regional policy tools, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasised the universal principles that underpin social protection efforts.
Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif said the Summit is ‘a golden opportunity to revisit the Copenhagen vision,’ noting that poverty eradication, decent work and social inclusion are ‘completely anchored in human rights.’
On social protection, she highlighted close collaboration with other UN agencies, particularly the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and ‘incredible success stories’ where programmes are backed by law and target the most vulnerable.
Looking ahead, he stressed the need to take action: ‘We now have the momentum to turn all our plans and aspirations into action. We know how it works, and we have the solutions.’
Public policies that benefit young people
Arturo Requesens, Social Affairs Officer at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, highlighted the relevance of the Doha Political Declaration for young people. He noted that the document strengthens youth participation by recognising the importance of involving young people in decision-making and empowering them.
‘Young people were actively involved and participated in many of the sessions, including negotiations between States and civil society organisations,’ he explained.
Requesens stressed that, although the final negotiation was the responsibility of UN member states, the declaration places significant emphasis on the implementation of policies that integrate youth perspectives.
‘Numerous youth-led projects were presented, aimed at meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring that their voices influence the development of public policies that directly benefit them,’ he added.
The official also highlighted the inclusion of young people from vulnerable groups, such as those with disabilities, indigenous peoples and minorities. ‘We have seen very significant participation in round tables and plenary sessions, with an emphasis on giving them space and ensuring that their concerns are translated into concrete actions during the implementation of the document,’ he concluded.