World Day of Social Justice

World Day of Social Justice works as a reminder of the need to eliminate discrimination, inequalities, poverty, and unemployment to promote social justice. Since this term is quite broad and vague for many, it tends to become a catchphrase, rather than being internalized as a concept with an effect on every imaginable aspect of our lives. Expectedly, economic and social development are major factors capable of disposing of social injustice, which directly connects to the work opportunities one has access to.

International Labor Organization has accepted Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization as one of its statements of principles and policies in 2008. This document puts forward the goals of creating more and better jobs, developing systems of social protection, protecting workers´ rights, and opening social dialogue. Considering the system (in the broadest sense) tends to protect those who are already privileged, creating opportunities to develop skills that make one eligible for better jobs has the key role for a meaningful attempt at improving the conditions under which a community lives.

Following capacity building, providing fair wages and social security, as well as a safe working environment, are the responsibilities of not just the employer but most importantly, the states. States are responsible for protecting their citizens through implementation of laws ensuring equal treatment in education and employment, housing, legal matters. Where a state lacks the resources to offer help to its citizens, it should be compensated by the international organizations and NGOs.

Social justice worldwide

Analyzing the world with a social justice lens is often heartbreaking. We are startled by seeing the statistics comparing the welfare, in the Western world and in developing countries. However, the daily routine causes inevitable forgetfulness of appreciation of one´s life conditions. It is not fair to expect a constant state of consciousness from actual people with actual problems of their own. We do know that 700 million people are living in extreme poverty, but we as individuals are incapable of creating a meaningful contribution to their situation. It does not mean that we cannot be angry at people who do not finish their plate at restaurants, or we can keep the young people who decide to ditch school responsible for being unappreciative. But before doing any of those things, one must realize that we as individuals often do not have the means to create institutional change.

Who should we be angry at

Social justice is a matter with its solution mostly depending on the states, the actors with actual power of change. And as a product of social structure, economy, and most importantly history, states have different levels of capability of influence in today´s political scene. Responsibility of effort to change is not equally distributed among the states, just like within a country. Considering colonialist backgrounds and history of invasions, it is obvious that some countries have more responsibility in the inequalities in many aspects of the global structure today.

Anger can be a useful emotion with its power of motivation to take action. What remains ineffective on the individual level can become meaningful when done collectively. Supporting or taking part in community-led organizations is the most impactful action one can take. Led by people who know by experience about the circumstances created by the social injustice, these organizations have a greater chance of impact. It is always possible to contribute to a cause and to create a meaningful impact, as long as we remember that we have a responsibility towards other people who suffer more under the unjust global order.

Written by Deniz, volunteer at avinjo.