SKN Makes History at United Nations’ World Summit

UNITED NATIONS – Reports out of Doha, Qatar speak to the ‘exceptional, excellent, and high quality’ representation by the delegation of St. Kitts and Nevis at the United Nation’s Second World Social Summit for Social Development (WSSD) which is being held from 4-6 November, 2025.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ delegation headed by the Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth Empowerment, Housing and Human Settlement, Ecclesiastical and Faith-Based Affairs, Social Development, Gender Affairs, Aging and Disabilities, and competently supported by Ms. Azilla Clarke, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, and Gender Affairs assumed key leadership and facilitation roles at the UN’s Second World Social Summit.

Deputy Prime Minister Hanley and Permanent Secretary Clarke served as Vice Presidents of the Plenary Meetings, as well as Co-Chairs of the High-Level Roundtable 2, which focused on, “Assessing progress and addressing gaps and challenges in the implementation of the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and its Programme of Action and giving momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

The Second World Social Summit aims to build on the 10 Commitments of the First World Social Summit, which was held in 1995 in Copenhagen, Denmark. It further seeks to accelerate action on poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, and social inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

The Summit serves as a pivotal platform for dialogue, cooperation, and joint solutions, convening governments, international organizations, the UN system, civil society, cooperatives, academia, the private sector, and experts to strengthen international cooperation for inclusive social development.

Deputy Prime Minister Hanley and Permanent Secretary Clarke extended their appreciation to the Permanent Representative of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations, H.E Dr. Mutryce Williams and her team for their strategic leadership efforts at the United Nations, and for the invaluable support provided by the Mission to the delegation, to ensure that the highest quality of representation is reflected at this historic Summit, especially as St. Kitts and Nevis was able to assume key leadership roles in Doha.

The delegation is also expected to engage in meaningful bilateral meetings, as the Federation seeks to strengthen diplomatic relations with partner countries, and redefine strategies for social progress.

Other members of the delegation include Mrs. Adaeze Hanley, and Ms. Tisharie Fyfield.