Monaco at the 2nd United Nations World Summit for Social Development : Strengthening inclusion, social protection and empowerment through sport

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The Principality of Monaco took part in the 2nd World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha, Qatar, from 4 to 6 November 2025. Thirty years after the Copenhagen Declaration, the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration reaffirmed the central importance of human dignity, inclusion and social justice in public policy.

In her statement, H.E. Ms Isabelle Picco, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations, underlined that social development is the foundation of resilient societies, recalling that the majority of Monaco’s Official Development Assistance is dedicated to health, education, socio-professional integration and the protection of vulnerable persons.

She also highlighted the vital role of sport as a catalyst for equality, social cohesion and empowerment, welcoming the fact that the Doha Declaration explicitly recognises sport as a driver of social development: “From the empowerment of young girls to the inclusion of refugees, sport offers countless pathways to social inclusion”.

As Co-Chair of the Group of Friends on Sport for Sustainable Development, the Principality also organised two side events during the Summit. The first, held in partnership with Qatar, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Mission 89, addressed the urgent need to prevent the risks of exploitation faced by many young athletes, particularly those from disadvantaged or migrant backgrounds. The Ambassador, citing the work of AMADE and Peace and Sport, stressed that the dream of a young athlete should never lead to the nightmare of exploitation, but rather to a path of dignity, inclusion and safety.

The second event, organised with Qatar, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), UN Women, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the NGO Peace and Sport, reaffirmed that sport directly contributes to the Summit’s three pillars — poverty eradication, decent work and social inclusion — as well as to several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

“This Summit calls on us to turn solidarity into action, for a social development grounded in compassion,” concluded the Ambassador.