Qatar's Permanent Representative to UN: Doha Hopes Second World Summit for Social Development Will Yield Tangible Outcomes
New York | April 16 2025
HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani participated in a panel discussion organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs titled 'The Legacy of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development at its 30th Anniversary." The event was held in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and its Programme of Action, as a prelude to the State of Qatar’s hosting of the Second World Summit for Social Development later this year.
The panel discussion, held at the UN headquarters in New York, also featured participation by Under-Secretary-General of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua.
During the session, Her Excellency affirmed that the State of Qatar’s hosting of the upcoming summit is a continuation of the country's long-standing commitment to supporting the social dimension of sustainable development. She noted that the State of Qatar is a key partner of the United Nations in this field, as it hosted several major international conferences and summits focused on development, human rights, and global peace and security.
Her Excellency added that the upcoming summit represents a pivotal moment to reaffirm international commitment to the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action on Social Development, while also generating the necessary momentum to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, especially in light of the adoption of the "Pact for the Future" last year.
She explained that the State of Qatar hopes the summit will yield tangible and practical outcomes in key areas of social development, such as eradicating poverty, providing decent work for all, and promoting social inclusion, while emphasizing the need to address implementation gaps and accelerate progress toward the desired goals.
Her Excellency concluded her remarks by reaffirming Qatar’s commitment to hosting a summit that focuses on making a real difference in people’s lives. She expressed the State's readiness to work hand-in-hand with UN member states, the UN, and all partners to ensure the summit's success and the achievement of its goals, ensuring that no one is left behind.
For his part, the Under-Secretary-General of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs called on member states and all stakeholders to strengthen their cooperation with the United Nations, in order to capitalize on the momentum generated by the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha. He emphasized the importance of translating political commitments into concrete, actionable steps that serve the people and respond to evolving global challenges.
This participation reflects the State of Qatar’s commitment to reinforcing a multilateral dialogue approach and enhancing international cooperation on priority issues, paving the way for an ambitious summit in Doha that contributes to advancing collective efforts toward more just and inclusive global development.