President William Ruto has urged the international community to move swiftly to fix global systems that he says continue to entrench inequality, poverty, and social exclusion.
Speaking in Doha, Qatar, at the Second World Summit for Social Development, the President, who addressed the gathering on behalf of the African Group of States said tackling these challenges “is not an act of charity but justice for humanity.”
Ruto reflected on the three decades since the first Social Development Summit in Copenhagen, noting that while the world has made strides in reducing poverty and expanding access to health, education, and social protection, deep-rooted inequality still undermines progress.
“Persistent and widening inequality within and among nations continues to erode these very gains,” he said. “Global systems of trade, finance, and technology remain unequal and exclusionary.”
The President warned that hunger is again rising across Africa and parts of Western Asia as economies slow and vulnerabilities deepen. “Health and education systems are under strain, and energy deficits continue to hold back opportunity,” he added.
Ruto called for universal access to essential services that protect human dignity, saying healthcare must be seen as a right, not a privilege.
“Universal access to affordable and quality healthcare is not a luxury; it is a right for every citizen,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of affordable housing, describing it as “a cornerstone of social development,” and urged collective action to bridge the widening digital divide that locks millions out of opportunity.
“Education must include every learner, empower every teacher, and reach every community, including persons with disabilities,” the President said.
Ruto called for far-reaching reforms of the global financial system to make it fair and responsive to the needs of developing countries.
He pressed for action on debt distress and backed proposals for a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and a UN convention on sovereign debt.
He also reiterated Africa’s long-standing demand for fair representation in global decision-making forums, calling for two permanent and two non-permanent seats for Africa on the UN Security Council.
Welcoming the Doha Declaration on Social Development, Ruto said it reflects a renewed global commitment to build cohesive and resilient societies.
He also hailed the African Union’s decision to declare 2025 the “Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” describing it as a step toward accountability for historical injustices such as slavery and colonialism.
“Together, let us envision a future that is inclusive, resilient, and just, a world free of hunger, poverty, disease, racism, and inequality; a world where prosperity is shared, the digital divide is bridged, and trust in multilateralism is renewed,” he said.
