Iran Urges Global Unity to Tackle Pressing Challenges Together
In a significant address at the 2nd World Summit for Social Development 2025 held in Doha, Qatar, Iranian official Rabiei advocated for enhancing South-South cooperation to achieve vital development goals. He emphasized the need for community-based governance, anti-corruption initiatives, and effective oversight to ensure a better future for all.
Rabiei expressed his gratitude towards the Government of Qatar and the event organizers for facilitating this important summit. He articulated the complexities of social development, highlighting several critical issues:
- Poverty and Inequality: These challenges must be minimized to foster a more equitable society.
- Human Dignity and Justice: The preservation of human dignity and justice is essential for collective welfare.
- Focus on Vulnerable Groups: Special attention must be given to groups with unequal opportunities, such as migrants.
- Respect for Family Institutions: The importance of the family unit should be acknowledged and respected.
Rabiei stressed the importance of assessing our achievements in social development and identifying the barriers that have hindered progress. He acknowledged that while there has been notable advancement, many crucial objectives remain unmet.
He pointed out that numerous factors threaten the quality of life for millions, including:
- Natural disasters
- The recent global pandemic
- Climate change
- Geopolitical conflicts
- Harsh unilateral sanctions and discriminatory policies
One of the pressing challenges highlighted was food security. Rabiei noted that one-third of the global population, particularly women and children in developing countries, suffers from hunger and malnutrition. He emphasized that addressing this crisis necessitates a global commitment and coordinated investments in sustainable agricultural systems.
Rabiei also brought attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the occupied territories, where the occupying forces have allegedly weaponized water and food against civilians, resulting in the tragic loss of countless innocent lives. He condemned these actions as genocide and crimes against humanity, urging the summit to unify in condemning such inhumane practices and to develop mechanisms to prevent their recurrence.
Another significant barrier to social development, according to Rabiei, is the imposition of unjust sanctions, which disrupt the social progress of nations. He argued that sanctions violate fundamental human rights, threaten livelihoods, and obstruct access to essential medical care, particularly for patients with severe illnesses, leading to unnecessary deaths.
In light of these challenges, Rabiei called for the summit to condemn these inhumane sanctions and establish frameworks to prevent actions that jeopardize public welfare.
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s approach to social development is grounded in three core pillars:
- Advancement of Human Development: Prioritizing the growth and well-being of individuals.
- Structural Social Protection: Implementing systems that safeguard vulnerable populations.
- Inclusive Employment: Ensuring job opportunities are available to all segments of society.
Despite facing extensive sanctions, Iran has made significant strides in its Human Development Index (HDI), which has risen from 0.626 in 1990 to 0.799 in 2023. The nation has also initiated programs aimed at bolstering social and livelihood resilience to shield its citizens from economic and climatic shocks.
Rabiei emphasized that addressing global challenges requires collective and principled action. He welcomed South-South cooperation as a means to achieve development goals and underscored the importance of community-based governance, anti-corruption measures, and results-oriented oversight.
At this summit, it is vital to propose practical mechanisms that enhance global social protection, particularly in light of ongoing economic and environmental crises. Rabiei recommended that special attention be given to social resilience and the formulation of policies that strengthen it.
He concluded by asserting that social development is fundamentally incompatible with sanction-based policies. Such measures undermine human dignity and disrupt the social stability of communities, contradicting the very objectives of the summit. This meeting can serve as a powerful platform to reject sanctions and foster practical discussions on mitigating their impact on human lives.
In closing, Rabiei expressed hope for a global discourse where the suffering of one is felt by all humanity. He quoted the esteemed Persian poet Saadi Shirazi, whose words resonate deeply:
“Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, the name of human you cannot retain.”
Through such sentiments, the summit aims to forge a path towards a more compassionate and equitable world.
