In continuation of the League of Arab States’ efforts, along with its member states, to strengthen joint Arab social and developmental action, the General Secretariat participated with a high-level delegation in the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha from 4 to 6 November. The summit witnessed the participation of numerous kings, presidents, and princes from Arab and other countries, representing 167 nations, in addition to senior officials from the United Nations and its specialised agencies, as well as representatives of regional organisations and civil society institutions active in the social field.
His Excellency Ambassador Majid Abdel Fattah Abdel Aziz, head of the League of Arab States delegation, congratulated the State of Qatar and all Arab states on the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration on Social Development. He said that the declaration incorporated the Arab priorities formulated by the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, in coordination with the Arab Group in New York. He commended the efforts of the Arab Group and the League’s mission in New York during the negotiation process, which led to the inclusion of these priorities in this important global document, thereby positively influencing the lives of Arab citizens. He also praised the leadership demonstrated by the Arab states during the negotiations, particularly the intensive efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco as one of the facilitators in New York.
His Excellency highlighted the active and high-level Arab participation in the summit, including Iraq’s role as Chair of the Group of 77 and China, representing the collective interests of developing countries. He further noted that the League of Arab States, in cooperation with its partners, organised more than five high-level side events covering various social fields, focusing on issues such as poverty eradication in all its dimensions, the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, comprehensive social inclusion, employment, and decent work.
In addition, the League of Arab States participated in the main sessions of the conference at the summit level, as well as in other events jointly organised by Arab states, to highlight key directions related to Arab priorities, convey the aspirations of Arab peoples, and reaffirm the determination to continue advancing social development despite the immense challenges facing the region. Foremost among these are the inhumane practices of the occupying power and their direct and indirect impact on achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These efforts were reflected in several significant Arab initiatives addressing issues such as debt, development financing, climate change, social inclusion, and the promotion of cultural and social identity, among other topics of shared interest to the Arab states.
