Doha: Hosted by the State of Qatar from November 4 to 6, the Second World Summit for Social Development concluded Thursday with wide international praise for its outcomes and results in terms of advancing social development globally and linking it to sustainable development.
At the closing session, the Summit reiterated its welcome of the Doha Political Declaration, which was adopted by the Conference. The Declaration emphasized the interconnectedness of eradicating poverty, providing decent work opportunities for all, and achieving social inclusion as essential elements for attaining sustainable development. It also provided significant impetus to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In her address at the Summit's closing session, President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock stated that the Doha Summit marks a new beginning for advancing social development globally and achieving many goals related to improving education, healthcare services, communications, and other vital areas that serve societies.
She noted that the Doha Political Declaration and its provisions, adopted by the Summit, form the basis for building more just, secure, and resilient societies, 30 years after the first Summit.
She further said that the Second World Summit in Doha marked a turning point, as it moved from diagnosing problems to taking practical steps to solve them, thanks to multilateral efforts involving governmental and international organizations, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
The time has come more than ever to capitalize on the great momentum generated by the Doha Summit after listening to and learning about the views of heads of state, heads of government, and all parties concerned with social development, she stressed, noting that the focus should now be on transforming the ideas and proposals presented into tangible innovations, actions, and initiatives by considering how to invest in the financial commitments related to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly commended Qatar for its outstanding organization of the Summit and its significant role in the success of this important global event.
She also reiterated that sustainable development cannot be achieved without a just and lasting peace, as conflicts not only claim lives but also set back decades of social progress.
Following the closing session of the conference, the UN flag was lowered at the Qatar National Convention Centre, officially marking the conclusion of the Second World Summit for Social Development.
The summit saw the participation of approximately 8,000 representatives from member states, including heads of state and government, ministers, representatives from the United Nations, civil society, academia, the private sector, and youth. They all reaffirmed the importance of social development and the well-being of societies and presented practical solutions and proposals for achieving sustainable development through its social dimension
