As the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York from September 23 to 27, 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has released its flagship report, *The State of Social Justice*, reflecting on global advancements and persistent challenges since the landmark 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen. The report underscores the critical link between social justice and sustainable economic progress, emphasizing the need for inclusive development and decent work for all.
Three decades ago, 186 nations gathered in Copenhagen, committing to place people at the heart of global development. This consensus laid the groundwork for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, which aim to create a socially just, peaceful, and sustainable world by 2030. Significant strides have been made since then: extreme poverty has dropped from 39% to 10% of the global population, child labor for children under 14 has been halved, and over half the world now benefits from some form of social protection, such as pensions or unemployment insurance.
However, the ILO report reveals stark disparities that threaten the achievement of the SDGs. A person’s birthplace still determines more than half of their lifetime earnings, and over 800 million people globally survive on less than three dollars a day. Progress on SDG 8, which focuses on decent work and economic growth, lags at just 66% of its targets. The report stresses that accelerating the SDGs is essential to improving living conditions and achieving social justice. Decent work, it argues, is not merely about earning a living but serves as a barometer of societal well-being, encompassing health, education, equality, and responsible consumption and production.
The report also highlights the role of strong institutions in translating productivity gains into better lives. Social dialogue between workers, employers, and governments is identified as the most effective way to balance interests and ensure equitable growth. However, institutions are currently being tested by three major transitions reshaping the world of work: climate change and the shift to a greener economy, the digital revolution, and demographic changes. These transformations, while creating new opportunities, risk exacerbating existing inequalities.
In November 2025, the second World Social Summit will be held in Doha, offering a pivotal moment to turn past commitments into tangible action. The ILO-led Global Coalition for Social Justice provides a platform for governments, employers, workers, and other partners to accelerate cooperation and achieve social justice and decent work for all. As the report concludes, social justice is not an unattainable ideal but the only path forward to a sustainable future for everyone.