Gender equality at the heart of social development

The Summit's three core pillars – poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work for all, and social integration – are deeply interconnected with gender equality.

Today, 1 in every 10 women lives in extreme poverty, and among the 3.8 billion people lacking social protection, 2 billion are women and girls. The gender gap in labour force participation stands at 27.7 per cent, with only  64.5 per cent of women aged 25 to 54 in the labour force as compared to 92 per cent of men of the same age, showing little progress over the past 20 years.

These disadvantages accumulate across the life course, leaving older women in particularly precarious situations.

UN Women's priorities at WSSD2

UN Women is championing a transformative agenda that addresses structural drivers of gender inequality in social development:

Tackling the feminization of poverty: Scaling up policies and investment in gender-responsive social protection systems to ensure women and girls living in poverty are not left behind.Investing in the care economy: Reimagining and investing in care systems by recognizing, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care and domestic work, while expanding access to affordable childcare and supporting care workers.Promoting women's employment and decent Work: Ensuring equal pay for work of equal value, supporting women in informal and rural economies, and eliminating structural barriers to women's economic participation across all ages.Advancing adolescent girls' rights: Promoting girls' education, particularly in STEM, and eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.

UN Women Leadership and Events

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will participate in high-level discussions throughout the Summit, including at the High-Level Round Table 1 and side events, advocating for the inclusion of gender equality as a cross-cutting priority in the implementation of the Doha Political Declaration.

UN Women-Organized Events

*All times reflect Doha time, unless indicated otherwise.

Closing Gender Gaps Across the Life Course: From First Job to Secure RetirementTuesday, 5 November 2025 | 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Room 4 Co-organized with the Government of El Salvador and the Government of MoroccoThis event focuses on tackling the feminization of poverty through women's access to decent jobs, social protection, and equal pay for work of equal value. It showcases successful regional models and innovative financing, with particular focus on the Arab States Flagship Initiative "Surging Women Employment 5% before 2030 in the Green, STEM and Care Economies”. The event demonstrates how a life-course approach combining social protection with decent work policies can support security and inclusion across all stages of women's lives, reducing poverty in older age. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will speak at the event.

Caring for the Future: Redefining Development Through Care Politics Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 11:20 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | Room 103 Co-organized with the Government of Chile, the Government of Spain, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), and the Global Alliance on CareThe event centres on redefining development through care politics, advocating for care as a pillar of sustainable development. By closing care policy gaps and expanding quality and affordable care services, nearly 300 million new decent jobs could be created by 2035. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will deliver opening remarks.

Power, Protection, Progress: Addressing Violence Against Women, including Sexual Harassment, in a Changing World of Work (Virtual) Monday, 4 November 2025  | 8:30 am – 10:00 am EST / 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm (Doha) Co-organized with Sweden, Generation Equality Action Coalition on GBV, International Labour Organization (ILO), Kering Foundation, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Civil Society Organizations The event will discuss effective and sustainable solutions for addressing violence against women, including economic and sexual harassment, in the changing world of work. It will spotlight the urgent need to address violence against women, as workplaces transform due to technological, economic, and social shifts and explore effective strategies, policies, and practices that prevent and respond to violence against women in the world of work. UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda will speak at the event.

UN Women senior leadership at partner events

Addressing Gender and Aging: Centring Older Women in Social Development Solutions Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 10:00-11:15 a.m. | Room 2 Co-organized by UNFPA, UN Women, and the Government of Finland This event focuses on practical, gender- and age-responsive solutions for older women, addressing poverty, employment, and social inclusion. It highlights policy innovations, inclusive pension systems, and care economies, aiming to advance equality, well-being, and participation for older women across the life course. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will deliver opening remarks.

Transformative Governance for Caring Societies: Pathways Towards Inclusive Social Development Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 10:00-11:15 a.m. | Room 1 Co-organized by the Government of Chile, ECLAC, the International Labor Organization, Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO), UNRISD, UN Women, and the Global Alliance for Care  This side event positions care governance as a structural pillar of the new social contract through intersectional and territorial approaches. The event showcases promising approaches to transformative governance essential for sustaining inclusive care systems over time. UN Women Chief of Staff Mohammad Naciri will speak at the event.

Policy Meets the Pitch: Integrating Sport into Social Inclusion Agendas Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 3:00–4:15 p.m. | Room 105 Co-organized by UN Women, UNDESA, Government of Monaco, Government of Qatar, International Olympic Committee, UN DGC, Peace and Sport, and Commonwealth Secretariat This event aims to promote and scale inclusive, low-cost, high-impact sport-based initiatives that deliver social and economic benefits, especially for disadvantaged communities. It addresses investment gaps, advocates for equitable funding, and fosters multilateral partnerships that advance gender equality and inclusive development. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will deliver keynote remarks.

The Second World Summit for Social Development represents a crucial opportunity to accelerate action toward gender equality and social development. As the global community marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, UN Women is calling for renewed political commitment and adequate financing to build inclusive societies where all women and girls can thrive – across all ages and life stages.

Learn more: Second World Summit for Social Development website