February 20 is World Day of Social Justice:

Towards a better world

The UN calendar has a plethora of special days that focus our attention to everything from animals to human rights. Next Saturday (Feb 20) the world will celebrate a day that combines a multitude of issues rolled into one - the World Day of Social Justice.

Social Justice can mean many things to many people, but in a wider context it includes addressing social issues such as poverty, unemployment, access to health and education, development, access to justice and equality.

The World Day of Social Justice was celebrated for the first time just last year, although the relevant UN resolution was passed in 2007. It was in that year recognising the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe February 20 annually as the World Day of Social Justice.

In a unanimously adopted resolution the 192-member body also invited Member States to devote the day to promoting activities at national level in support of the objectives and goals of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen.

The main focus is on poverty eradication, the goal of full employment and the fostering of social integration as overriding objectives of development.

In designating the World Day, the Assembly recognised the "need to consolidate further the efforts of the international community in poverty eradication and in promoting full employment and decent work, gender equality and access to social well-being and justice for all".

Member States devote this special day to the promotion of national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development. Participating governments have made a commitment to the creation of a framework for action to promote social justice at national, regional and international levels. They recognise that economic growth should promote equity and social justice and that "a society for all" must be based on social justice and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

As defined by the UN, social development aims at social justice, solidarity, harmony and equality within and among countries and social justice, equality and equity constitute the fundamental values of all societies. They also pledged to promote the equitable distribution of income and greater access to resources through equity and equality and opportunities for all.

Member nations were also asked to dedicate February 20 to encourage solid nationwide activities in agreement with the objectives and aims of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth conference of the General Assembly, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: attaining social growth for all in a globalising world".

As documented by the World Summit, social growth focuses on social justice, unity; agreement and parity inside and amid countries and social fairness, impartiality and equity compose the essential morals of all societies. To attain "a society for all" governments made an assurance to the formation of a structure for accomplishment to encourage social impartiality at national, regional and international stages.

Sri Lanka, though still developing, has made vast strides in the sphere of social justice. Universal free education and healthcare have ensured that Sri Lanka's 'living' and social justice indicators are almost on par with the developed world.

The Government is engaged in a marathon effort to wipe out poverty, unemployment is at an all-time low, there is a healthy justice and legal aid system, the rate of economic growth is increasing and gender balance is much better than in many other developing countries.

National integration has received pride of place after the end of the 30-year-old conflict in the North East. Sri Lanka is leading South Asia in terms of social justice achievements.

In fact, South Asia should collectively strive to reach greater heights in social justice. There is only a little awareness in the region regarding the Social Justice Day and SAARC Governments should get together to make it more meaningful.

SAARC Governments have already made several proposals to ensure social justice in the region and these must be implemented without delay, also in line with the Millennium Development Goals of the UN. Access to well-being and equality for all is well within our reach.

- PdS