The address by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the opening of the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025 in Doha this week was a significant call for expediting the global efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development goals. The Amir’s address and Qatar’s historic hosting of the summit also underscored Qatar’s commitment to multilateralism and strengthening the United Nations’ role in an equitable, rules-based world order.
Apart from the issues of global social development, H H the Amir also touched upon two pressing regional issues Gaza and Sudan. In Gaza, a ceasefire brokered my mediators including Qatar is largely holding and there has been an increase in humanitarian aid shipments entering the strip. The Amir urged global support for the Palestinian people in reconstruction and rebuilding their lives, as well as protecting their legitimate rights.
The Amir also expressed his grave concern and condemned the atrocities committed in the city of El Fasher in the Darfur region of Sudan. “Did we need further proof to understand that neglecting violations of States’ security, sovereignty, and stability, and turning a blind eye to civil wars and their atrocities inevitably leads to such tragedies,” he said.
The adoption of the Doha Declaration at the summit marked a significant moment in the effort to reshape global development priorities toward dignity, equity, and shared prosperity. At a time when the world is facing widening social divides, deep economic uncertainty, and strains on public trust, the Declaration reasserts a principle that should be self-evident but too often ignored: development must be people-centred. It calls on governments, international institutions, and development partners to treat social protection as a fundamental right and a foundation for stability, productivity, and human development.
The Doha Declaration elevates social protection systems, universal access to quality education, and affordable healthcare as pillars of cohesive societies. Importantly, it recognises that social development cannot be siloed from broader economic frameworks. Adequate financing—domestic and international—is essential. The Declaration encourages nations to prioritise the expansion of social safety nets, ensure fair access to public services, and invest in jobs and skills for a rapidly changing global economy. It highlights that the pace of technological change and climate pressures demand new forms of adaptation, especially for youth and vulnerable communities.
Qatar’s role as convener lends the Declaration both visibility and urgency. The country has positioned itself as a platform for dialogue and consensus-building, emphasising multilateral cooperation at a time when many global forums are fractured by polarisation.
