The care agenda and the defense of the public local services were also at the center of the local government's political priorities
The Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) took place in Doha, Qatar, from 4 to 6 November 2025, marking a key milestone to renew global commitments to equality, inclusion, and dignity. United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) through the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF) actively participated in the Summit, highlighting the central role of LRGs in building social justice from the ground up. Our Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights (CISDPHR) was present in this global gathering, represented by our coordinator Adrià Duarte.
In its Joint Statement, the GTF reaffirmed that LRGs are “pillars of democracy, peace, and sustainability through public local services that ensure rights and make social justice tangible in our homes, neighbourhoods, and communities.” The statement welcomed the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration and called for renewed multilateralism that connects global ambition with local delivery, rooted in territories and communities.
UCLG and our Committee put at the forefront housing as a universal right — not a market privilege — and a cornerstone of equality and inclusion. Adequate and affordable housing was promoted as an essential entry point to public services and a foundation for democratic life in cities and territories.
The Summit also provided an opportunity to reinforce the vision of the Local Social Covenant, the platform championed by UCLG to connecting local action with global ambition through shared principles of care, equality, and trust. The Covenant promotes solidarity, co-responsibility, and the recognition of public services — including housing, health, food, culture, and care — as the backbone of a renewed social contract for the 21st century.
Through its participation in WSSD2, UCLG and its Committee reaffirmed their commitment to advancing an inclusive multilateralism that places territories at the heart of international policymaking. Toward the 2026 UCLG Congress, this milestone event is powering the municipal movement’s renewed global social contract from the ground up, where equality, care, and dignity are lived realities for all.
Read the Doha Political Declaration
Read the Global Taskforce Joint Statement