Today, February 20, World Women's Day is celebrated. Social justiceBut what is social justice? This concept emerged in the mid-19th century to refer to the need to achieve an equitable distribution of social goods. In a society with social justice, human rights are respected and the most disadvantaged social classes have opportunities for development.
This term is linked with equityThis concept is used to refer to a fair and impartial distribution, whether in the economic, financial, social, or healthcare spheres.
This day, proclaimed by the General Assembly on 26 November 2007 (A/RES/62/10), seeks to support the international community's efforts to eradicate poverty and promote full employment and decent work, gender equality, and access to social well-being and social justice for all.
I'm particularly struck by the article published on the United Nations website regarding this day. It points out that we've changed eras! It's surprising, but very understandable. They point out that we're in the "Anthropocene era," and you might be wondering, "What is that?" So am I, but don't worry, I have the answer.
To simplify things, I'll simply say that significant changes have been taking place in the ecosystem since the earliest humans developed the most primitive civilizations. As Nobel Prize winner in chemistry Paul Crutzen put it, "he believes the influence of human behavior on the Earth in recent centuries has been significant." It is for this reason that some scientists propose replacing the name of the previous era, the Holocene, with this term, which has been gradually gaining traction since 2008.
It's true that the current pace, in general, isn't very good. We've been addressing resource scarcity and significant environmental changes with sustainable policies for years, but we must continue working. The article emphasizes the need for an "economy that is embedded in a society and culture that are in turn embedded in a vital ecological system, and that the economy cannot grow forever on this finite planet."
A sustainable and fair economy is needed that also ensures our well-being in a sustainable manner. For the United Nations, the pursuit of universal social justice represents the core of its mission to promote development and human dignity.
The achievement of this social justice is also closely linked to the Sustainable Development GoalsThere are 17 goals, ranging from eradicating poverty to combating climate change, while also addressing health and well-being, quality education, and gender equality, among others.
In the previous two editions, in 2016 and 2017, the themes addressed on February 20th were a just transition toward environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all, and preventing conflict and maintaining peace through decent work. This year, the theme is migrant workers in pursuit of social justice.
Nowadays, one of the main reasons for moving to a new country is the search for decent employment. After so many years of working or studying with various qualifications under your belt, you decide to move and not settle. In some cases, work isn't the main reason, but you'll always look for it to survive in the country you've decided to move to.
The adoption by the International Labour Organization of the Declaration of the International Labour Organization on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization is a good example of this commitment. This Declaration focuses on ensuring equitable outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work.
Let's look at some figures to see it more clearly.
The International Labour Organization (UNWTO) estimates that some 150 million workers are migrantsâor 4.4 percent of the global workforceâof whom 56 percent are men and 44 percent are women. Globally, migrant workers have a higher labor force participation rate than local workers: 73 and 64 percent, respectively.
Below, we provide information about the event taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on this important day in the annual calendar. Click here. here
Main source www.un.org/es
