At the opening of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha, Qatar, three decades after the Copenhagen Summit, Political Bureau Member and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment “to the cause of social development and its three pillars: the eradication of poverty, full and productive employment, and social inclusion.”
With a tribute to Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and the words he spoke 30 years ago at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, when he told us that “more than promises, resolutions, and declarations are needed: political will and justice are needed” to make our dreams a reality, Political Bureau Member and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz concluded his remarks at the Second World Summit for Social Development.
At the Qatar National Convention Centre, where 14,000 participants are gathered, including more than 40 Heads of State and Government, 170 ministers, and representatives of civil society, youth organizations, and international institutions, the Prime Minister thanked the people, the State, and the Government of Qatar on Tuesday for “their kind hospitality and for hosting such an important event.”
Three decades have passed since the World Conference on Social Development, and the Copenhagen commitments remain essential pillars for inclusive and sustainable social development. In this regard, Marrero Cruz asserted that humanity faces unprecedented challenges and an unjust international order that perpetuates inequality and poverty.
“There can be no social development in a world with more than 750 million people suffering from hunger, 2.3 billion with food insecurity, or 3.8 billion without social protection, where poverty reduction is stagnant and wealth is increasingly concentrated in fewer hands,” the Head of Government explained, adding that the billions of dollars allocated to military spending, including to finance the genocide currently being committed in Palestine, should be directed toward development and the eradication of poverty.
In this regard, he reiterated Cuba’s firm solidarity with the Palestinian people, as well as its strong condemnation of the United States’ threats of aggression against sister nation Venezuela. He added that the increasing application of unilateral coercive measures against nations of the Global South also hinders progress in development. “It is the people, the individuals, who suffer the devastating impact of these practices. The case of Cuba demonstrates this,” he affirmed.
During his address, the Head of Government referred to the criminal economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed for more than six decades by the United States against Cuba, as well as the arbitrary, infamous, and unilateral inclusion of the country on the list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism, which constitute the main obstacle to our efforts to advance sustainable development.
“This is an economic war aimed at suffocating our Revolution and bringing us to our knees; but know that we have an army of the people, of women, men, and young people ready to fight and who will never allow this,” Marrero Cruz asserted, adding that last week, the vast majority of the international community once again expressed, at the United Nations General Assembly, its opposition to the application of this policy. “The Cuban people and government appreciate this unwavering and historic show of solidarity and support for International Law.”
In his remarks, the Prime Minister also recalled Hurricane Melissa’s passage through Cuba, which caused extensive material damage, and took the opportunity to express his gratitude for the countless expressions of solidarity and to those countries that have shown interest in providing material aid to those affected and to support the recovery process.
Towards the end of his address, the Head of Government pointed out that while the external debt of developing countries, already repaid several times over, continues to grow, along with capital flight and the climate crisis, a new international order is urgently needed. This order must guarantee not only peace, but also the right to development, sovereign equality, fair representation of the Global South in global decision-making, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The efforts of developing countries toward the 2030 Agenda must be backed by concrete actions: technology transfer and investment,” asserted the Prime Minister, who, 30 years after Copenhagen, reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment “to the cause of social development and its three pillars: the eradication of poverty, full and productive employment, and social inclusion.”
On a planet facing growing inequalities, demographic shifts, and profound technological and environmental transformations, the Second World Summit for Social Development offers a crucial platform for dialogue and collaborative action. Therefore, the opening day of the summit emphasized the idea that social development is a collective responsibility, and in keeping with this, participants adopted the Doha Political Declaration, a renewed commitment to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and decent work for all, and foster social inclusion.
Furthermore, it calls for renewed multilateral cooperation, solidarity, and innovative solutions to accelerate social progress and achieve the 2030 Agenda, building on the legacy of the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. The resolution reaffirms that “eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions remains the greatest global challenge” and that social development and social justice “are indispensable for peace and security.”
The Declaration proposes an “effective multilateralism” based on human dignity and cooperation, with commitments to strengthen social protection, promote gender equality, formalize informal employment, and guarantee fair wages. The text aims to revive the political, economic, and ethical vision of social development. “We are meeting at a summit of renewed hope, driven by commitment and collective action,” it states.
It was precisely this responsibility to work together, with political will and firm measures, to promote concrete, integrated, and specific policies and actions to implement the Declaration, that UN Secretary-General António Guterres referred to in his opening address at the summit. He added that the document “represents a powerful impetus for development and a comprehensive plan for humanity.”
This plan, he noted, requires measures in four key areas: combating poverty and inequality, promoting employment opportunities, securing the necessary financing, and guaranteeing human rights and inclusion. Therefore, he added, the Declaration translates into tangible reality by focusing on providing opportunities for all, based on the principles of social justice, full employment, and human dignity.
Guterres warned against the continued exclusion of many groups, including women, minorities, migrants, refugees, older persons, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and young people; and stressed the need to protect democratic values, strengthen women’s participation, eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence, and build societies free from disinformation and hate speech, with human rights as the compass toward justice and a better future for all.
In a related context, he noted that the World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen, was a moment of moral reflection, in which the international community affirmed that true development does not mean achieving prosperity for a few, but rather providing opportunities for all. He then called for the Declaration to be translated into tangible reality that addresses global challenges and guarantees a better future for humanity.
For his part, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, affirmed that this new meeting was an opportunity to reaffirm the spirit of international solidarity and cooperation in the face of the challenges that hinder economic progress, threaten social peace, and slow the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Social development is not an option, but an existential necessity for all societies and people,” the Emir noted, while emphasizing that the success of this Second Summit will be measured by our ability to translate our commitments into concrete measures that enable us to achieve social development for all, especially in developing countries.
“We are fully confident that, thanks to our collaboration, we have the capacity to make this conference a significant turning point in responding to the aspirations of our peoples and seizing the numerous opportunities before us to achieve tangible progress in the field of social development in a comprehensive and sustainable manner,” he concluded.
These interventions, and all those heard this Tuesday in the plenary hall of the Qatar National Convention Centre, were an ideal platform for learning, generating ideas, and moving from planning to implementing practical solutions to the social problems and challenges faced by numerous societies in that fairer and more sustainable world that we have a duty to build.
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
