Not just dreams, but rights: Social justice in focus at Doha summit – UN News

Report on the Global Coalition for Social Justice Forum

Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The Global Coalition for Social Justice Forum convened key stakeholders, including government ministers, workers’ and employers’ organizations, United Nations agencies, and civil society representatives. The primary objective of the gathering was to accelerate coordinated action towards achieving critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a specific focus on:

• SDG 1: No Poverty – Eradicating poverty in all its forms.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Reducing inequality within and among countries through social inclusion.

The forum addressed the urgent need to strengthen social protections and close inequality gaps, building on momentum generated since the coalition’s inception in 2023.

Assessment of SDG Progress and Persistent Challenges

Acknowledged Gains in Global Development

Participants recognized that progress has been achieved in several areas central to the SDGs. Notable advancements include:

• Improvements in education, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education).
• Increases in life expectancy, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• Strides in gender equality, supporting the objectives of SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Enduring Obstacles to Social Justice

Despite these gains, the forum highlighted that significant barriers remain, impeding the full realization of the 2030 Agenda. Key challenges include deeply entrenched discrimination, social exclusion, and deficits in labour rights, which directly undermine the principles of SDG 8 and SDG 10.

High-Level Directives for SDG Implementation

UN General Assembly President’s Call for Systemic Change

Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, framed social justice as a fundamental right, not an aspirational vision. She warned that poverty, conflict, and lack of educational opportunities continue to limit the futures of millions of young people, directly contravening the targets of SDG 1, SDG 4, and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). A call was made for governments, the private sector, and civil society to dismantle systemic barriers and end these injustices, thereby accelerating progress on SDG 10.

ESCAP’s Regional Strategy on Social Protection

Srinivas Tata, Director of the Social Development Division at UN ESCAP, emphasized that social protection is a primary vehicle for achieving social justice. He noted that while the Asia-Pacific region has made progress on SDG 1, high inequality (SDG 10) and climate-related vulnerabilities persist. ESCAP’s Social Protection Toolbox was presented as a policy instrument to help governments implement effective social safety nets. The analysis demonstrates that social protection is a strategic investment in human capital and sustainable development, rather than a cost.

OHCHR’s Human Rights-Based Approach

Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, underscored that the forum’s core themes—poverty eradication, decent work, and social inclusion—are anchored in universal human rights. This rights-based approach is foundational to the entire 2030 Agenda. The partnership between OHCHR and the International Labour Organization (ILO) was highlighted as an example of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in action. The Deputy High Commissioner stressed that the international community possesses the necessary solutions and must now transition from planning to implementation to achieve the SDGs.

Conclusion and Strategic Recommendations

The forum concluded with a consensus on the need to translate commitments into concrete actions. The key strategic pathways identified to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals are:

1. To reinforce the principle that social justice is a fundamental right, essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda.
2. To promote social protection schemes as a strategic investment in achieving SDG 1, SDG 8, and SDG 10.
3. To ensure all development initiatives are anchored in universal human rights principles.
4. To strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships, in line with SDG 17, to ensure effective and coordinated implementation of social justice policies.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article’s central theme is the “Global Coalition for Social Justice Forum,” which aims to accelerate action on “poverty eradication.” It also discusses how millions have been lifted out of poverty in Asia and the Pacific.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The forum’s goals explicitly include promoting “decent work.” The article also mentions that “gaps in rights at work remain deeply entrenched,” directly connecting to the principles of this SDG.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – A major focus of the article is on inequality. It quotes a speaker saying, “The world, as it stands, is not equal. It’s not fair,” and discusses efforts to “close inequalities,” address “discrimination, exclusion,” and “dismantle systemic barriers.”
• SDG 5: Gender Equality – The article explicitly states that “Progress has been made in… gender equality,” but also notes that “discrimination” remains a significant issue, which is a core concern of SDG 5.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article describes the forum as a multi-stakeholder gathering that “brought together ministers, workers’ and employers’ organizations, UN agencies and civil society to accelerate action.” This collaborative approach is the essence of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all. The article heavily emphasizes “social protection” as a key means to achieve social justice, mentioning ESCAP’s “Social Protection Toolbox” and how schemes are anchored in law to target the most vulnerable.
• Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. This is identified through the mention of “gaps in rights at work” that remain “deeply entrenched in many countries.”
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all. The article directly discusses the goal of “social inclusion” and the need to identify “who is being left behind and how to reach them.”
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices. This is supported by the call to “dismantle systemic barriers” and end “discrimination, exclusion” and “injustices once and for all.”
• Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The article’s reference to progress in “gender equality” while also highlighting ongoing “discrimination” connects directly to this target.
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The description of the forum as a collaboration between “governments, the private sector and civil society” to accelerate coordinated efforts exemplifies this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 1.3: The article discusses expanding social protection and ESCAP’s toolbox for this purpose. This implies the use of an indicator like Indicator 1.3.1: Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems. The goal is to increase the coverage of these systems for the poor and vulnerable.
• Implied Indicator for Target 10.2: The article mentions the need to identify “who is being left behind.” This implies a process of disaggregating data to measure the inclusion of various population groups, which is a foundational concept for many indicators under SDG 10, such as measuring inclusion irrespective of age, sex, disability, etc.
• Implied Indicator for Target 8.8: The reference to “gaps in rights at work” suggests that the level of national compliance with labour rights is a key measure. This aligns with the concept behind Indicator 8.8.2: Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: news.un.org