GCSPF’s position on REV 1 of the Political Declaration WSSD2

The GCSPF shares its position on REV 1 of the Political Declaration 2025 World Summit for Social Development (WSSD).

Download the letter. Download the Annotated REV1.

The Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) welcomes the Draft Political Declaration of the “World Social Summit” under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development” of 18 June 2025 - REV1.

The GCSPF especially notes the recommitment to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action (§1, 6, 16); reaffirmation of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (§7); reaffirmation of all Human Rights (§10); recognition at various points of mounting inequality (§2, 14f, 2b,c, 9, 12); and reference to the care economy (3p,q).

With particular focus on 1) Social Protection as a principal means to eradicate poverty and 2) the counteracting impact of mounting inequality, the GCSPF suggests the amendments and comments below. Furthermore, specific language is provided in the attached edited version of REV1 both in reference to these two issues as well as to the closely related issues of care, informal work, homelessness and unemployment. Finally, the GCSPF has a comment on frequency of follow-up.

Social Protection

1. Recalled at Copenhagen, the right to social security is established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in several international human rights conventions, and since 2012 by public international law, namely ILO Recommendation 202. It is also a target of the 2030 Agenda to eradicate poverty as SDG1, target 1.3. This importance of Social Protection must be acknowledged in §11 before all further reference to social protection in the Declaration, viz.: “In this regard, we reaffirm the target to achieve the eradication of poverty, among others, to implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable, that was included in SDG1 to introduce new international law adopted since the Copenhagen Declaration” (add text).
2. In order to follow the order of issues in §2c, strengthening social protection systems, now §2g to be moved up to be the first next paragraph to elaborate on §2c, i.e. §2d (move text).
3. References to social protection to be preceded by the word “universal” in current §2b and §2c (add text).
4. Replace text “by enhancing social safety nets” (§10a) with “and social protection floors” (replace text).

Inequality

1. In view of the highly damaging impact of rising inequality on the realization of the Copenhagen Programme of Action, the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, Inequality should be an additional organizing theme of the Second World Summit for Social Development, further to the organizing themes of the Copenhagen Declaration.
2. In this regard, many of the issues raised in the current REV1 can be reorganized within a framework of Inequality.
3. Discussion of inequality must be addressed with data on measurable dimensions that are systematically monitored and part of a global surveillance and reporting mechanism.

Frequency of follow-up

1. The GCSPF reasons that the review process interval must not exceed 5 years (§15a), given that weak follow-up of the Copenhagen Programme of Action slowed social development.

In conclusion, the GCSPF welcomes the continuing consultative process leading up to the Second World Summit for Social Development, and will continue to support this process, convinced that civil society inputs to the process and to the Summit will be equally welcomed and that, together, all stakeholders at Doha will outline clear aspirations and actionable means to achieve universal social development.