World Day of Social Justice , 20 February If You Want Peace & Development, Work for Social Justice
photo : migrants ©International Labor Organization
Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.
On 26 th November 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted, without reference to a Main Committee. a resolution [1] proclaiming 20 February as the World Day of Social Justice [2] .
The pursuit of social justice for all is at the core of the United Nations global mission to promote development and human dignity. The International Labour Organization, one of the UN’s main organizations, adopted on 10 th June 2008, the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization [3] . The Declaration focuses on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work.
Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. The ILO estimates that currently about 2 billion people live in fragile and conflict-affected situations, of whom more than 400 million are aged 15 to 29.
Job creation, better quality jobs, and better access to jobs for the bottom 40 per cent have the potential to increase incomes and contribute to more cohesive and equitable societies and thus are important to prevent violent conflicts and to address post-conflict challenges.
[1] General Assembly of the United Nations, Sixty-second Session: “ Resolution number 10 / 62 World Day of Social Justice ”, 26 th November 2007.
[2] United Nations: “ World Day of Social Justice ”.
[3] International Labour Organization: “ ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization ”, 10 th June 2008. ( English copy of the declaration )
