World Day of Social Justice
- victoria7339
- Feb 20, 2024
- 3 min read
Where poverty is rampant, there are declining levels of trust and the climate crisis endures, it can be extremely difficult to remain positive. Because of this, we have decided to take a step back and reflect upon the advances that have been made in order to work towards a more socially just world. This is as well as why it is important that we all continue to share optimism, despite the substantial challenges that we collectively endeavor.
What is World Day of Social Justice?
Every year, the UN General Assembly recognises the 20th February as World day of Social Justice. This was originally conceived by the UN General Assembly on the 26th November, 2007 (2). The UN recognises the critical role that World day of Social Justice plays in strengthening the communication between multiple stakeholders, including ‘member states, civil society and UN organisations’. This is in ‘strengthening the social contract’ that has been ruptured due to ‘rising inequalities, conflicts and weakened institutions’ (1). As well as this, World day of Social Justice is an important occasion for educating people on issues of social injustice, thus equipping them with the incentive and ability to tackle these issues and subsequently advance social justice. Meaning that it is an important time to reflect on the critical role that social justice plays towards achieving ‘world peace, security and advancement’ (2).
The Significance of Social Justice
Fairness is an inherent component of social justice. Therefore, human rights and equal opportunities are a fundamental foundation for working towards social justice (2). There are multiple definitions of social justice, however issues of social justice include ‘social discrimination, health inequality, the effect of climate change on specific groups, and homelessness’ (3). The 1948 UN declaration of human rights gave rise to the emergence of theories of social justice in ‘the second half of the 20th century’ (3). Today, social justice plays a fundamental role in working towards achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals, with it having a pivotal role in promoting economic prosperity, tackling poverty and fostering sustainability and inclusion. In addition, it is critical to recognise the role that social justice plays in a regional and national level, with its role in providing ‘adequate healthcare’, preventing discrimination and manifesting equality of opportunity (4).
The Advancement of Social Justice
We are proud to see increasingly diverse people representing institutions around the world. This includes a generally higher proportion of women in institutions, more ethnically diverse people as well as LGBT+ people. For instance, UN women shows that ‘as of 10 January 2024, there are 26 countries where 28 women serve as heads of State and.or government.’ Meanwhile, 22.8% of heads of cabinet are women (5). We also recognise that the importance of social justice has become increasingly recognised in international development, including within the UN Sustainable development goals. However, part of being optimistic is realising that there is a significant amount of work that needs to be done in order to tackle social injustices. For instance, ‘gender equality’ in the top positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years, if we continue to move at our current pace of change (6). Therefore, whilst it has been proven that it is possible to move towards a more socially just world, it is crucial that we continue to face issues of social injustice when they persist.
Our work
At the CAE, we strive towards social justice, whilst we recognise the instrumental role that social justice plays in the work that we do. This includes fostering climate justice, encouraging entrepreneurship and tackling issues of inequality and discrimination. Our project, ‘ending workplace exploitation of migrants in Wales’ revolves around preventing the workplace exploitation of migrants, by working with those who are at a higher risk of experiencing exploitation, as well as shaping workplace practices to ensure the fair treatment of all workers. Moreover, we value the voices of those who have insights into this area, by having an advisory panel, so that the experiences of others can directly impact the work that we do. We also encourage entrepreneurship by giving people the resources, ranging from education to grants, in order to pursue their ambitions. Additionally, the work that we do on climate justice ranges from organising peaceful gatherings to enhance community support, to teaching sustainable cooking and to encouraging sustainable practices in our workplace.
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