It is three decades since first World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen and, while there has progress in reducing poverty and expanding access to essential services, inequalities remain high and children are disproportionately affected, said Save the Children.
DOHA, 5 November 2025 – World leaders must reignite action to combat poverty and promote social equality after pledging to do so 30 years ago and commit to the Doha Declaration, said Save the Children, as leaders meet this week for the second World Summit for Social Development.
It is three decades since first World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen and, while there has progress in reducing poverty and expanding access to essential services, inequalities remain high and children are disproportionately affected, said Save the Children.
The Doha Political Declaration, adopted this week, builds on the Copenhagen Declaration from 1995, and reaffirms that accountability, transparency and inclusive participation are essential to achieving social development.
Inger Ashing, Save the Children CEO, is attending the second World Summit for Social Development in Doha. She said:
“Thirty years ago, the Copenhagen Declaration set out a bold vision - that people and their dignity must be at the centre of social development – and called for a partnership between governments and civil society to eradicate poverty and achieve social justice. Yet three decades later, progress remains uneven, and for many children it has stalled or even reversed.
“At the current pace of progress, an estimated 750 million children – or one third of the world’s children - will still live in multi-dimensional poverty in 2030, while 224 million will remain out of school and 3.4 million children under five will continue to die every year from preventable causes.
“These are not numbers, they are stories of missed opportunities and unfulfilled promises. Each one represents a broken promise of the Copenhagen Declaration, in which Member States laudably committed to giving special priority to the needs and rights of children.
“While global needs have increased, social investment has not kept pace. COVID-19, conflict, climate crisis, economic shocks and debt distress, and now global aid cuts are taking a toll on countries’ public budgets. As children are hit hardest, we can no longer continue to treat economic and social policies as separate.
“The gaps we face are not inevitable; they reflect choices. As we look ahead, the world must choose to expand social investment, embed accountability through civil society, and ensure that every policy, budget and partnership is judged by its impact on the lives of children.
“Rebuilding trust begins with genuine inclusion, recognising that progress cannot be achieved for people but with them. Children and youth must be seen as partners in shaping their futures, not passive recipients of policy or services. Civil society must have the space and freedom to hold institutions to account, as well as the space and resources to partner with governments to deliver our shared goals.
“When we put children first, we deliver on every promise made in Copenhagen, in Doha, and in the 2030 Agenda.”
ENDS
