Guterres Demands Social Justice in Face of Extreme Inequality

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, described persistent global inequality as "inconceivable" during his address at the Second Summit for Social Development 2025 in Doha.

He pointed out that in a world with sufficient resources, it is unacceptable that nearly 700 million people live in extreme poverty, while the wealthiest 1% hold nearly half of the world's wealth. For Guterres, this disparity is not merely an economic imbalance, but an ethical and political failure of the international community.

In his speech, he recalled that millions continue to die from preventable diseases or face hunger, despite science and technology offering accessible solutions.

Social Protection for 4 Billion: An Unfulfilled Promise

Guterres highlighted as "intolerable" that nearly 4 billion people—more than half of the world's population—lack any form of social protection. Without access to safety nets in the face of health emergencies, unemployment, or climate disasters, these people live in conditions of extreme vulnerability and systemic exclusion.

In response, the Secretary-General called on states to lead comprehensive national policies that strengthen health, education, food security, and decent employment. He emphasized that true development is not measured by GDP growth, but by the capacity to build societies where social justice, equity, and human dignity prevail for all.

An Urgent Call Amid Multiple Crises

The Second Summit for Social Development 2025 is taking place in a context of unprecedented global uncertainty: armed conflicts, mass displacement, climate crises, and setbacks in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Guterres lamented that developing countries are not receiving the necessary financial and technical support, nor is there action with the required urgency in the face of global warming. Furthermore, he urged the guarantee of universal fundamental rights and the recognition of the value of care economies, historically rendered invisible.

At a press conference, he reiterated his concern for Gaza, demanding respect for the ceasefire and a credible political path towards a two-state solution that ensures self-determination for the Palestinian people.

"It is not about prosperity for a few, but opportunities for many."

Figures Demanding Action: The Cost of Inaction Against Hunger

Behind Guterres's warnings are stark data. According to joint projections from the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 582 million people will still suffer from hunger in 2030 if current investments are not significantly increased.

To eradicate hunger before the end of the decade, an additional 540 billion dollars are needed, most of it destined for social protection programs that guarantee access to food, health, and economic resilience.

This figure represents a notable increase from the 330 billion estimated in 2020, reflecting both the deepening of the crisis and the rising cost of solutions in a more volatile world. The report underscores that phenomena such as droughts, floods, and extreme heat waves, exacerbated by climate change, have weakened agricultural production in numerous developing countries.

This is compounded by a growing dependence on food imports, which exposes them to shocks in global markets and limits their sovereignty in this area. In this context, investing in local production systems, rural infrastructure, and safety nets is not just a humanitarian matter, but a strategy for global stability.