UN World Social Development Summit – November 2025

​The UN Global Social Development Summit convenes at a time when Muslim and Jewish communities around the world have in recent years experienced an alarming increase in hate speech and hate crimes targeting them. The escalating hatred directed against Muslim and Jews is not only a threat to them but also threatens the very foundations of inclusive societies worldwide. 

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In response to this crisis, the Granada Declaration of Principles offers a groundbreaking, comprehensive framework for combating both Islamophobia and antisemitism. This framework acknowledges that while Islamophobia and antisemitism manifest differently in different contexts, they share similar features and often intersect in practice. The Granada Declaration frames antisemitism and Islamophobia as distinct forms of racism that must be combatted as part of the broader global struggle against racism and discrimination. The Granada Declaration also emphasizes the value of coordinated actions against antisemitism and Islamophobia, without negating the value of community-specific advocacy efforts.

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This panel will introduce the Granada Declaration of Principles and explore its implementation across multiple sectors. The panel discussion will also examine how this Declaration can transform global approaches to combating racism. 

The panel will address the Declaration's seven key implementation areas, demonstrating how member states can adapt these frameworks to their specific national contexts. 

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Panel Objectives:

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1. Introduce the Granada Declaration as an innovative instrument that challenges how Islamophobia and antisemitism have been "pitted against each other," positioning unified action as essential for advancing global social development and human rights protection.

2. Demonstrate the Declaration's Integrative Approach – showcasing how treating these as "twin challenges" harnesses synergies and develops more coherent responses without diminishing community-specific advocacy efforts.

3. Connect to Universal Human Rights Principles – illustrating how the Declaration's unified framework upholds the fundamental dignity and equal rights of all people, directly supporting UN commitments to justice and peace.

4. Present Practical Implementation Pathways – sharing concrete mechanisms for transforming the Declaration's insights into actionable strategies across governments, civil society, academia, and international institutions.

5. Foster Stakeholder Dialogue – creating space for diverse voices to contribute to monitoring systems and implementation frameworks that ensure sustained progress in combating both forms of hatred.

6. Advance UN Global Plan Goals – demonstrating how the Granada Declaration contributes to the UN Global Plan of Action to Counter Hate Speech, particularly its emphasis on whole-of-society approaches to combating hatred.

 

The panel will conclude with next steps for Declaration implementation, including partnership frameworks, resource mobilization strategies, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure sustained progress in combating both Islamophobia and antisemitism globally.

 

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Panel Agenda

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​Opening Remarks - H.E. Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the State of Qatar Dr. Alvaro Renedo Zalba.

Introductory Remarks & Genesis of the Granada Declaration - H.E. Ambassador Dr. Khalid Al-Khater, President & Founder of New Ground Research Foundation. 

Introduction to the Granada Declaration & Implementation – Dr. Dalia Fahmy, Director of The International Relations and Diplomacy Program and Associate Professor of Political Science at Long Island University. 

The Declaration’s Integrative Approach – Dr. Brian Klug, Honorary Fellow in Social Philosophy at Campion Hall, Oxford, and Emeritus Fellow of the Philosophy Faculty, University of Oxford. 

Connection to Universal Human Rights & UN Global Plans – Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, Director, Religion and Equality Unit, University of Essex. 

 

Moderator – Ms. Amna Khalid Al-Thani, Policy Planning Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.

 

Audience Q&A