Doha: HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali Al Jaber Al Nuaimi has emphasized that equitable and inclusive social development is a fundamental pillar in building a sustainable future, asserting that human beings must remain at the center of development efforts, both as its end and means. This statement was made during the second roundtable meeting focused on assessing the progress and challenges in implementing the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and its Programme of Action, and generating momentum for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The meeting was part of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE the Minister highlighted that, despite global progress since the Copenhagen Declaration's adoption in 1995, ongoing challenges, including climate and economic crises and new conflicts, have created inequality that threatens social development. She emphasized the need for resilient societies with inclusive, flexible, and responsive social systems. Qatar's development journey is rooted in the belief that true economic progress is incomplete without human and social development. She explained that Qatar National Vision 2030 prioritizes people by empowering families, supporting women and youth, and enhancing social protection to leave no one behind.
Her Excellency further noted Qatar's significant investments in education, healthcare, and social protection, supported by policy frameworks ensuring inclusive services for all society segments. She concluded by calling for renewed global political commitment and expanded international cooperation to maintain social development, justice, and human dignity at the forefront of the international agenda, noting the urgency of the vision established in Copenhagen thirty years ago.
In related remarks, HE Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina Mohammed addressed the increasing challenges related to the widening digital divide and declining trust in institutions, particularly among youth, which threaten social contracts globally. At the Doha Conference, she noted the digital divide's role in creating new exclusions and the low trust in institutions among young people, asserting that current progress is insufficient, with inequality persisting across generations.
She urged a change from traditional policies to address these complex challenges and emphasized the need for leaders to accelerate the Copenhagen Accord and Sustainable Development Goals implementation, focusing on fulfilling commitments by placing people at the heart of development policies. The UN Deputy Secretary-General also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence and digital tools to create opportunities and warned against exacerbating inequality without necessary safeguards, as today's children will grow up in a technology-driven world.