Social Justice

 

Social justice may be defined to the equal and equitable distribution and use of resources, opportunities and privileges within a society, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their ethnicity, background, gender, religion or beliefs are treated equally and have the full access to rights and opportunities. Social justices call for the elimination of systematic and institutional inequalities and the promotion of fairness, inclusivity and the full enjoyment of human rights

According to Bell (2007), social justice involves “full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs.” This definition highlights the importance of both equity and collective responsibility in addressing societal disparities. Similarly, Rawls (1971) defines social justice as a system of fairness in which institutions strive to balance individual freedom and equality, ensuring that the most disadvantaged members of society are protected and supported.

Social justice also extends to specific domains such as economic justice, environmental justice, and racial justice, each addressing unique forms of inequality and discrimination. For instance, Fraser (2003) emphasizes the intersectionality of social justice, arguing that it requires addressing cultural recognition, political representation, and economic redistribution simultaneously.

So why is social justice important today? Well I believe there is little accountability within our governments, corporates and many other social institutions. Human rights and justice are only considerable when it is beneficial to the entities that govern our societies. A restoration of accountability leads to restoration of just institutions, that stands for the rights of people. Social justice is important because it not only addresses the human needs of the present but also safeguards the better future of generations to come. The world is battling with unending conflicts, environment and biodiversity loss, climate change, forced migrations among many injustices. Most of these issues can be traced back to unchecked desires for power, resources, land etc. There is little accountability on those in positions of power, who use it to structurally inflict violence on society and use it as  a means to maintain imbalances in distribution of resources.

We can not sit idly as long there is discrimination of minority groups, commmunities, women and children. We can not watch as millions of lives are lost in uneccesary wars and conflicts, as many people are dispalced from their communities to make way for development that never benefits the locals. We can not stand-by as the world continues to get warmer because of human induced global warming.

This is a call to action to all human rights defenders. Make your voice heard, be passionate about what you believe in. We need social justice now! 

References

Bell, L. A. (2007). Theoretical foundations for social justice education. In M. Adams, L. A. Bell, & P. Griffin (Eds.), Teaching for diversity and social justice (2^nd ed., pp. 1–14). Routledge.  

Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.