联合国西亚经济社会委员会-在第二届世界社会发展峰会之前，阿拉伯地区的战略重点（英）

Strategic priorities for the Arab region ahead of the 2nd World Summit for Social Development 2025Why the 2nd World Summit for Social Development matters: upholding inclusive social development in the face of multidimensional inequality, conflict and shrinking fiscal spaceThirty years after the 1st World Summit for Social Development, the goals set out in the Copenhagen Declaration to eradicate poverty, achieve full productive employment and decent work, and promote social integration, seem further out of reach.The Arab region is particularly off-track; it is the only region worldwide where income poverty is rising. The region has the highest unemployment rate globally and exhibits high multidimensional inequalities, especially gender inequality. The digital divide is a rising concern, and the next generation will grapple with ageing, reconfigured care societies, and the persistent challenge of climate change. Crippling public debt is also hindering the financing of social development priorities in many countries.Governments in the Arab region are committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are moving forward with ambitious policy directions as outlined in the Arab Sustainable Development Report 2024. The 2nd World Summit for Social Development, due to take place in Doha, Qatar in November 2025, offers a chance to consolidate this momentum and secure commitment to address the challenges that have undermined progress at global, regional and national levels.The present document outlines a set of regional priorities for the consideration of countries in the Arab region as they engage in the negotiation process on the Summit’s outcome.©unai/stock.adobe.com2nd World Summit for Social DevelopmentDoha, Qatar4 - 6 November 20252. 1 Additional actions needed to achieve social development amid conflicts, fiscal constraints, climate pressures and the digital divideConflicts in the Arab region, directly affecting 40 per cent of the region’s population living in eight countries, have had a devastating human toll and caused regression on many SDGs. In Gaza alone, around 50,000 were killed between October 2023 and January 2025. More than 70 million people across the region require humanitarian assistance. To progress towards social development in countries affected by conflict, it is crucial to: De-escalate conflict and promote peace as preconditions for development by identifying and addressing the root causes of conflict and enhancing dialogue and cooperation. Call on the global community to uphold international law and implement United Nations resolutions to foster stability, security and justice in conflict-affected and occupied countries.The Arab region’s debt reached $1.55 trillion in 2023, while external debt servicing for middle-income countries reached $40 billion in 2024. This is constraining the ability of countries in the region to increase social expenditure to global standard levels. The global discussion on social development cann