UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged stronger international action against poverty and inequality at the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, insisting development must benefit the many, not the few. He warned that developing countries lack sufficient support and criticized slow global responses to the climate crisis and the Sustainable Development Goals. The summit, running until Thursday with about 14,000 participants, focuses on social protection, decent work and poverty reduction. Delegates plan to adopt a declaration that aid groups say is too vague and non-binding.
Guterres Calls for Stronger Global Action on Poverty and Inequality at Doha Summit
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged stronger international action against poverty and inequality at the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, insisting development must benefit the many, not the few. He warned that developing countries lack sufficient support and criticized slow global responses to the climate crisis and the Sustainable Development Goals. The summit, running until Thursday with about 14,000 participants, focuses on social protection, decent work and poverty reduction. Delegates plan to adopt a declaration that aid groups say is too vague and non-binding.
14:09, 04.11.2025Society
UN chief urges global commitment to social justice and decent work
UN Secretary-General António Guterres used the opening session of the United Nations World Summit for Social Development in Doha to call for a renewed international push against poverty and widening inequality.
"True development isn't about prosperity for the few," Guterres said. "It's about opportunities for the many, grounded in social justice, full employment and human dignity."
Guterres warned that many developing countries are not receiving sufficient support and criticized the international response for moving too slowly on the climate crisis and on delivering the Sustainable Development Goals agreed by UN member states.
The summit — running until Thursday — is expected to bring together roughly 14,000 participants to discuss concrete measures for reducing poverty and social inequality, expanding social protection systems and improving access to decent, well‑paid employment worldwide.
Among those attending are Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, and German Labour Minister Bärbel Bas. Business leaders, aid organizations and other civil society representatives are also taking part in the talks.
Delegates are scheduled to adopt a summit declaration. However, aid groups have already criticized the draft text as too vague and insufficiently binding, arguing it lacks the concrete commitments needed to accelerate progress.
Background: The first World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen in 1995. This Doha meeting aims to reinvigorate international cooperation on social protection, decent work and poverty eradication.