World Day of Social Justice

World Social Justice Day shines as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a just and equitable world for all, where every individual gets treated with dignity and respect.

Illustration by Sadek Ahmed (Source: United Nations)

The World Day of Social Justice is a day to reflect on the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect and commit ourselves to create a world where everyone can live a fulfilling life. Celebrated every year on February 20, this day is dedicated to promoting and raising awareness about the importance of social justice in our world. Social justice is the principle that all individuals should have the opportunity to live with dignity, and have access to the same rights and options, regardless of their background and/or circumstances.

The history of the World Day of Social Justice can be traced back to the United Nations General Assembly, which in 2007 recognized the need for an international day dedicated to social justice. The General Assembly recognized that social justice is essential for the achievement of peace, stability, and security and that it is a fundamental human right that must be protected and promoted. The day is commemorated to recognise the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment.

The theme of this day changes every year, and it is aimed to highlight the importance of a specific aspect of social justice. Some examples of the themes from the past years include: "Workers on the Move: A Quest for Social Justice", "Closing the Inequalities Gap to Achieve Social Justice" and "Preventing Conflict and Sustaining Peace through Decent Work". The theme of 2023 is yet to be disclosed.

February 20 is celebrated as a reminder that social justice is not the sole responsibility of world governments but of society as a whole. It is a collective effort that requires the participation of all of us. By working together, we can create a world where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential and where everyone is valued and respected. Social justice means creating a society that is inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities. It means ensuring that they have the same opportunities and rights as everyone else and that they are not discriminated against or marginalized. This includes providing accessibility in buildings and transportation as well as ensuring access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

Social justice also means addressing issues of race and ethnicity and ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and with respect, regardless of their race or ethnicity. It means taking active steps to address systemic racism and discrimination and ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources. This includes addressing racial disparities in education, healthcare, and employment, as well as working to eliminate hate crimes and discrimination. Furthermore, social justice also means addressing issues of gender and sexual orientation. It means working towards gender equality and ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and with respect, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. This includes addressing issues such as the gender pay gap, violence against women, and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. In a country as big as India where people of varying religions, castes, races, gender, sexual orientation and disability are to live together in harmonious and dignified ways, the question transcends into the dark alleys of murky morality. Is social justice a myth? Can it exist in a country as humongous as ours? Can the subalterns, at the end of the day, speak?

The answer to these questions, as we deem it, is not a palatable sight. Perhaps, it lies in the struggle for social justice and in the plight of the marginals. It is in the zeal to make a change through individual efforts and a community revolution. Perhaps, the answer to these questions sits comfortably in the ability to try.