Statement by Right Honorable President of Nepal, Mr. Ramchandra Paudel at the Second World Summit for Social Development

Your Highness, the Amir of the State of Qatar,
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Mr. Secretary-General,

Distinguished Delegates,

It is my honor to address this important Summit.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of the State of Qatar for extending gracious hospitality and hosting this landmark gathering.

Excellencies,
Thirty years ago, the Copenhagen Declaration marked a seminal moment in our collective journey towards a fair, inclusive and equitable world.

We embedded the principles of social development in the global agenda, and pledged to place people— their rights, dignity, and well-being— at the center of our all development efforts.

Since then, we have made remarkable progress.

Poverty has declined.

Access to education and healthcare has expanded.

Social protection is strengthened.

Women’s participation and leadership has risen.

Life expectancy has improved.

Maternal and child mortality have fallen.

Yet, the achievements made are not enough.

The aspirations of a just, equal, and inclusive society remain largely unfulfilled.

In this context, the Doha Declaration stands as a renewed collective pledge towards building a more just, inclusive, equitable and sustainable world.

It calls upon all nations to translate commitments into tangible actions, ensuring that equality, dignity and opportunity for all become the bedrock of our shared future.

Excellencies,
In Nepal, inclusion, justice and social protection are the bedrocks of social development.

The Constitution of Nepal has embraced the major principles of Copenhagen Declaration.

We envision a society where every citizen enjoys equal rights, and equal opportunities with dignity.

Inclusive governance and the empowerment of marginalized communities—women, youth, ethnic and indigenous peoples, Dalits, and persons with differently abled persons, among others—remain central to our national endeavors.  

We prioritize access to quality education, healthcare, and social protection for all.

Thanks to political resolve and collective endeavor, Nepal has made notable achievements.

Poverty has halved since 1995.

SDG progress exceeds the global average.

Clean energy reaches over 95 percent of our population.

Gender parity in all areas including education has improved.

Maternal and child mortality rates have significantly dropped.

Nearly ninety social security measures support our elderly, women, children, and persons with disabilities, among others.

Representation of women, Dalits, indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups is constitutionally guaranteed.

Excellencies,

Similar to the rise of Youth movements around the world advocating for good governance, our country too witnessed demonstrations on 8 and 9 September this year. By ensuring the safe landing of the country and safeguarding the Constitution and democratic system, we have announced the election of members of the House of Representatives on 5 March 2026. We believe that this election will provide political solutions for Nepal and pave the way for good governance, development and prosperity.

Excellencies,
We are in a turning point in history.

This is a time to take concrete and coordinated actions on a global scale to meet the expectations of our people.

Due to the access to information at unprecedented speed and scale at the hands of general people, expectations of the peoples from least developed and developing countries have also shot up significantly.

They want better life, good education, quality healthcare, and decent employment right here, right now.

But the ground reality is different due to limited resources and limited capacity of state institutions.

When talking about just, inclusive, and equitable world and the principles of social development, I find it relevant to say something about climate change and its adverse impact on Nepali lives.

Despite negligible carbon emissions, Nepal is suffering from the adverse impacts of climate change.

The disproportionate impacts of climate change have further impeded our journey towards socio-economic development.

In this context, global solidarity, support and cooperation play a critical role in advancing the development efforts of countries.

For us, the Summit would be meaningful when international community can take solid steps to support the development efforts of developing countries, particularly LDCs.

I believe, the Doha Declaration can be a lighthouse for our future actions.

This Summit must be followed by bold and coordinated actions.

We need to revisit our priorities and redirect our resources.

Particularly developing countries need not only resources but also technological know-how.

We need enhanced level of support grounded in solidarity, fairness, and shared responsibility.

We need a just global trading system, fulfilled ODA commitments, climate finance, technology transfer, and increased investment.

In conclusion, Excellencies,

History has taught us that inclusivity and shared prosperity are the foundation of lasting peace, prosperity, and human dignity.

The future is what we shape today.

Together, let us design a future that ensures socio-economic development for all.

I thank you.