UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will participate in high-level discussions throughout the Summit, including at the High-Level Round Table 1 and side events, advocating for the inclusion of gender equality as a cross-cutting priority in the implementation of the Doha Political Declaration.

UN Women-Organized Events

*All times reflect Doha time, unless indicated otherwise.

Closing Gender Gaps Across the Life Course: From First Job to Secure Retirement
Tuesday, 5 November 2025 | 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Room 4 
Co-organized with the Government of El Salvador and the Government of Morocco
This event focuses on tackling the feminization of poverty through women’s access to decent jobs, social protection, and equal pay for work of equal value. It showcases successful regional models and innovative financing, with particular focus on the Arab States Flagship Initiative “Surging Women Employment 5% before 2030 in the Green, STEM and Care Economies”. The event demonstrates how a life-course approach combining social protection with decent work policies can support security and inclusion across all stages of women’s lives, reducing poverty in older age. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will speak at the event.

Caring for the Future: Redefining Development Through Care Politics 
Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 11:20 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | Room 103 
Co-organized with the Government of Chile, the Government of Spain, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), and the Global Alliance on Care
The event centres on redefining development through care politics, advocating for care as a pillar of sustainable development. By closing care policy gaps and expanding quality and affordable care services, nearly 300 million new decent jobs could be created by 2035. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will deliver opening remarks.

Power, Protection, Progress: Addressing Violence Against Women, including Sexual Harassment, in a Changing World of Work (Virtual) 
Monday, 4 November 2025  | 8:30 am – 10:00 am EST / 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm (Doha) 
Co-organized with Sweden, Generation Equality Action Coalition on GBV, International Labour Organization (ILO), Kering Foundation, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Civil Society Organizations 
The event will discuss effective and sustainable solutions for addressing violence against women, including economic and sexual harassment, in the changing world of work. It will spotlight the urgent need to address violence against women, as workplaces transform due to technological, economic, and social shifts and explore effective strategies, policies, and practices that prevent and respond to violence against women in the world of work. UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda will speak at the event.

UN Women senior leadership at partner events

Addressing Gender and Aging: Centring Older Women in Social Development Solutions 
Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 10:00-11:15 a.m. | Room 2 
Co-organized by UNFPA, UN Women, and the Government of Finland 
This event focuses on practical, gender- and age-responsive solutions for older women, addressing poverty, employment, and social inclusion. It highlights policy innovations, inclusive pension systems, and care economies, aiming to advance equality, well-being, and participation for older women across the life course. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will deliver opening remarks.

Transformative Governance for Caring Societies: Pathways Towards Inclusive Social Development 
Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 10:00-11:15 a.m. | Room 1 
Co-organized by the Government of Chile, ECLAC, the International Labor Organization, Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO), UNRISD, UN Women, and the Global Alliance for Care  
This side event positions care governance as a structural pillar of the new social contract through intersectional and territorial approaches. The event showcases promising approaches to transformative governance essential for sustaining inclusive care systems over time. UN Women Chief of Staff Mohammad Naciri will speak at the event.

Policy Meets the Pitch: Integrating Sport into Social Inclusion Agendas 
Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 3:00–4:15 p.m. | Room 105 
Co-organized by UN Women, UNDESA, Government of Monaco, Government of Qatar, International Olympic Committee, UN DGC, Peace and Sport, and Commonwealth Secretariat 
This event aims to promote and scale inclusive, low-cost, high-impact sport-based initiatives that deliver social and economic benefits, especially for disadvantaged communities. It addresses investment gaps, advocates for equitable funding, and fosters multilateral partnerships that advance gender equality and inclusive development. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will deliver keynote remarks.

The Second World Summit for Social Development represents a crucial opportunity to accelerate action toward gender equality and social development. As the global community marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, UN Women is calling for renewed political commitment and adequate financing to build inclusive societies where all women and girls can thrive – across all ages and life stages.

Learn more: Second World Summit for Social Development website