About the Summit. From 4–6 November 2025, Heads of State and Government will gather in Doha, Qatar for the Second World Summit for Social Development. Thirty years after the landmark 1995 Copenhagen Summit, WSSD2 will aim to reinvigorate commitments to the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action while galvanizing momentum toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . 

The Summit aims to adopt a concise, action-oriented Political Declaration, negotiated in advance through UN processes co-facilitated by Belgium and Morocco. Discussions are structured around the three pillars of social development: 

• Poverty eradication 
• Full employment and decent work for all 
• Social integration 

Thematic roundtables will assess progress and gaps, focusing on inequalities, demographic transitions, technological disruptions, and the social dimension of sustainable development.

Civil Society Advocacy Priorities for WSSD2  

As WSSD2 approaches, global civil society coalitions are mobilizing around a set of strong demands. Below are key themes and advocacy entry points that may be of particular relevance for engagement  to ensure the Summit delivers time-bound, enforceable commitments that move beyond aspirational language and address today’s intersecting crises of inequality, austerity, and shrinking civic space. 

1) Tackling Inequalities Head-On 

• Inequality must be addressed as both a driver and consequence of global crises, undermining democracy, peace, and sustainable development. 
• We must insist on the provision of universal, publicly funded services (healthcare, education, housing, care, social protection) to reverse austerity and privatization. 

2) Universal Social Protection and Decent Work 

Commitments sought for Universal Social Protection Floors (SPFs) by 2030, with financing plans in place by 2028, supported by an international Global Social Protection Fund. 

Guarantees on living wages, formalization of informal work, and labour protections in the digital age. 

Civil society emphasizes financing through progressive taxation and debt justice, rejecting austerity-based approaches. 

3) Gender Equality and Recognition of Care  

Women still perform 76% of unpaid care work, yet remain excluded from social protection and decision-making. 

For gender equality and recognition of care, we must call for: 

• Formalizing and valuing care work 
• Gender-transformative social protection 
• Sexual and reproductive rights 
• Representation of women, girls, and LGBTQI+ communities in decision-making. 

4) An enabling environment, Democracy, and Participation 

The need for stronger protections on democratic governance, labour rights, and rights-based migration pathways. 

Civil society must be treated as co-creators, not passive consultees, including formal roles in negotiations and the Summit. 

5) Emerging and Overlooked Themes 

• Civil society is pushing issues often absent from official agendas: 
• Homelessness and housing as global priorities. 
• Climate justice and the links between inequality, displacement, and environmental crises. 
• Digital inclusion and governance (AI, cyber risks, digital divides). 
• Mental health and building a “care society.” 

6) Financing and Global Solidarity 

• Civil society converges on urgent financing reforms: 
• Debt cancellation and restructuring to free up fiscal space. 
• Recommitment to the 0.7% ODA target. 
• Progressive taxation, including on wealth and emerging technologies (such as AI). 
• Ending austerity and privatization of public services. 

The Political Declaration is advancing recognition of systemic inequalities, but many civil society priorities (care economy, civic space, financing mechanisms) still need stronger integration. 

The biggest advocacy levers ahead of Doha will be: 

• Financing commitments (social protection, public services, debt justice, progressive taxation) 
• Stronger gender and inclusion language (aligned with CSW69 and human rights standards) 
• Formal guarantees for civil society participation in the Summit and beyond 
• Accountability mechanisms (time-bound targets, review processes).  

Forus Engagement 

Thanks to the leadership of our colleagues Essi Lindstedt (FINGO – Finland) and Zia Rehman (PDA – Pakistan), Forus will convene a network coordination call on WSSD2.

The registration link for NGOs with ECOSOC accreditation to participate in-person in the WSSD2 is available here: Inscription