Doha: The Doha Political Declaration, unveiled during the Second World Summit on Social Development in Doha, has outlined nine critical challenges the international community must address to eliminate rising global poverty and unemployment.
According to Qatar News Agency, the leaders emphasized the slow and uneven progress since the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, highlighting persistent inequalities both within and among nations.
With only five years left until the 2030 deadline, the declaration noted that progress toward most Sustainable Development Goals has been sluggish, with some goals even regressing despite achievements in certain areas. Notably, the declaration pointed out that over a billion people still live in poverty, affecting children, women, persons with disabilities, rural populations, and those in fragile situations the most.
The document also addressed the enduring issues of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, emphasizing the rise in global undernutrition rates. Despite advances in educational access, many children remain out of school. The declaration further noted that nearly four billion people still lack any form of social protection, affecting almost two billion children.
The situation of informal workers was highlighted, with many still living in poverty due to insufficient wages and incomes. Informal employment continues to be widespread, particularly impacting women and youth, while progress toward ending child labor remains slow. The declaration underscored the lack of education, employment, or training access for millions of young people, particularly young women.
Inequality levels were described as alarming, with widening income disparities since 1995 in both developed and developing countries. Gender inequality persists, with women earning less than men on average. Persons with disabilities face additional poverty risks and economic barriers. The declaration also stressed the digital divides, especially in rural and remote areas, where billions lack internet access and digital skills.
Additional challenges include geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, economic crises, climate change, environmental degradation, and water scarcity. The document also highlighted issues like desertification, pollution, famine, humanitarian emergencies, refugee crises, pandemics, and unequal technological advancement. The declaration concluded by noting the complexities of demographic shifts, such as rapid population growth and aging populations, as ongoing challenges and opportunities.