World Day of Social Justice (Social Justice Equality Day) is an international day recognizing the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender equality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections. On 26 November 2007, the General Assembly declared that, starting from the sixty-third session of the General Assembly, 20 February will be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice.
The Declaration focuses on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights.
The backbone of social justice is equality. Inequality takes many forms and strikes in different aspects of human rights including access to education, employment possibilities, expression of sexual orientation and religious beliefs amongst others. Fighting for social justice would include making sure those basic human rights can be practiced freely.
It would also put racial, religious, ethnic, and gender-based discrimination behind. Achieving this does not happen in a day and it is a constant process of challenging assumptions and controversial belief systems.
Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities but the COVID-19 Global Pandemic has highlighted the fact that there is great inequality in the world. It is to say with heavy heart that currently, social justice does not exist in the world and concrete measures are much needed to take to tackle this issue.
The theme of the World Social Justice this year is “A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy”. Over the past decade, expansion in broadband connectivity, cloud computing, and data have led to the proliferation of digital platforms, which have penetrated a number of sectors of the economy and societies. Since early 2020, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to remote working arrangements and allowed for the continuation of many business activities, further reinforcing the growth and impact of the digital economy.
Now, it’s high time to foster dialogue on actions needed to overcome the digital divide, provide decent work opportunities and protect labour rights in the modern era of digital technologies. It is essential to search for grassroots solutions to achieve sustainable development, poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment, universal social protection, gender equality and access to social well-being and justice for all.
Working towards strengthening the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) is the best way to close inequality gaps. While much has been achieved to improve the quality of life of millions of people, there remain many challenges and too many people living in poverty. A robust social dialogue between the public and private sector is the best path to achieving the SDGs and ending income inequalities.
Social justice makes a society wholesome, complete and harmonious. No one wants to be part of any community that is unjust and doesn’t work on its social structure. A society that is socially not ‘just’ is simply ‘unjust’. A society like that will eventually collapse and be replaced with a more socially just structure. A society without social justice will inevitably descend into chaos if not replaced or made better. Hence, social justice is an omen of healthy democracy and healthier society as a whole.
So, this year, let us all pledge to take action by engaging in efforts that promote access, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism to provide equitable pathways for all. This includes using our skills, talents and voice to serve our society.