NEW YORK CITY: More than 8,000 representatives of governments, the UN, civil society, academia and the private sector are expected to attend the second World Summit for Social Development in Doha next week, the Qatari envoy to the UN, Sheikha Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a joint briefing with president of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, Sheikha Alya said the three-day gathering, which begins on Nov. 4, would mark a “defining moment for global social development,” coming as it does 30 years after the first summit in Copenhagen.
“The State of Qatar is delighted to welcome the international community … all coming together in Doha to recommit to social justice and put people at the center of sustainable development,” she said.
At the heart of the summit will be the “Doha Political Declaration on Social Development,” which Sheikha Alya said reaffirms as essential components of sustainable development the “interlinked priorities” of poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work for all, and social inclusion.
The declaration also underscores the principle that social justice cannot exist without peace and security, or without respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, she added. It sends out a “clear call to action” that recommits governments to the creation of the conditions necessary for social development for all, and includes strong provisions relating to implementation, follow-up and review of efforts to achieve this to ensure accountability and measurable progress.
