Nearly three decades after the 1995 World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) in Copenhagen, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is preparing to release a wide-ranging new report assessing the state of global social justice. The release is timed to coincide with the lead-up to the second WSSD, scheduled for November in Doha, and serves as a moment to reflect on how far the world has come, and how far it still has to go.

A Global Scorecard on Poverty, Child Labour, and Social Protection

The report represents the most detailed assessment the ILO has published to date on social justice, compiling data and trends from countries around the world. It documents important strides in areas such as poverty reduction, the decline of child labour, and the expansion of social protection mechanisms, particularly in regions that historically lacked robust safety nets. These achievements show that sustained international commitment can yield real impact, especially when multilateral cooperation is aligned with domestic policy innovation.

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Progress Is Uneven, and Key Challenges Remain

Despite these advances, the report also offers a sobering account of where momentum has faltered. Informal employment remains the dominant form of work in many economies, leaving millions without job security or legal protections. Inequality, both within and between countries, has become more entrenched in the wake of recent crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related disruptions. In several key indicators, progress has stalled entirely, undercutting earlier gains and raising questions about the adequacy of current policy frameworks.

A Call to Embed Social Justice Across All Sectors

Looking beyond the data, the ILO uses the report to advocate for placing social justice at the heart of public and private decision-making. This includes integrating justice considerations into policies related to finance, industrial strategy, healthcare systems, education, and climate resilience. The message is clear: social justice is not an isolated concern, but a foundational pillar for building inclusive and sustainable economies.

Strengthening Multilateralism and Social Dialogue

Another key theme of the report is the need for deeper and more coordinated cooperation between governments, international institutions, labour unions, and civil society. The ILO argues that a fairer world cannot be built by one sector alone, and that meaningful progress will depend on reinvigorated partnerships between state and non-state actors. This echoes growing calls from across the Global South for a more inclusive global governance model that reflects the realities and voices of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

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Charting the Road to Doha and Beyond

As the world prepares for the 2025 World Summit for Social Development in Doha, this report will serve as a critical reference point for both national and international policymakers. The ILO’s analysis not only reflects on the unfinished business of the past thirty years, but also lays out a bold and urgent roadmap for ensuring that social justice becomes a defining feature of the next era of global development.

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