United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged world leaders and development partners to intensify efforts to eradicate poverty and bridge the widening gap of inequality across the globe.
Speaking at the opening press conference of the United Nations World Summit for Social Development in Doha on Tuesday, Guterres said true development must prioritize fairness and inclusion over privilege.
“True development isn’t about prosperity for the few; it’s about opportunities for the many, grounded in social justice, full employment, and human dignity,” the UN chief declared.
Guterres criticised the inadequate support extended to developing nations and condemned the sluggish global response to the climate crisis and the UN’s sustainable development goals.
The three-day summit, which runs until Thursday, has attracted about 14,000 participants, including heads of state, international organisations, business leaders, and civil society groups. Discussions are focused on strategies to reduce poverty, close social gaps, and expand access to decent work and social protection systems worldwide.
Among the key attendees are Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s former foreign minister and current president of the UN General Assembly, and German Labour Minister Bärbel Bas.
A final declaration is expected to be adopted at the end of the summit, though aid groups have voiced concerns that the document remains too vague and lacks binding commitments to enforce real change.
The first World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen in 1995, establishing a global framework for dialogue on inclusive growth, social justice, and sustainable development.
