World Day of Social Justice
Leonie Hauri
January 2016
Where I'm from, people say some holidays were invented by card companies so that they could make more money. I don't know if this is true or not. However, there is a holiday coming up that was definitely not made up by a card company. This holiday took forever to get established, and it even has a new theme every year.
On 20 February, the United Nations (UN) celebrates World Day of Social Justice. This day is dedicated to tackling problems such as poverty, discrimination, limited rights, and unemployment. It was introduced in order to encourage and spread social justice. This holiday mainly focuses on human rights and freedoms, though it also deals with employment and unity.
World Day of Social Justice was celebrated for the first time in 2009. However, its origins stretch back to the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, where over a hundred political leaders vowed to bring about social justice for their people. It took ten years before the matter was considered again. In 2005, UN member states decided to continue the pursuit of social justice at the Commission for Social Development. Even then, it wasn't until 2007 that the General Assembly introduced the idea of World Day of Social Justice. It wasn't until another two years later, in 2009, that the holiday was actually celebrated.
The General Assembly asked UN member states to dedicate this day to social justice, unity, agreement, and equality within and between nations, equal chances to all, human rights and freedoms, fairness, and impartiality. Additionally, it focused on putting an end to poverty as well as on encouraging employment, and upholding the standard of gender equality.
Considering that this is a holiday celebrated by all member states of the UN, it shouldn't be surprising that there are many different ways of celebrating World Day of Social Justice. Some nations bring forth plans to improve employment rates and stop poverty within their own countries. Trade unions and other groups are encouraged to inform members about this holiday. The Russian General Confederation of Trade Unions even uses the motto "Social Justice and Decent Life for All." Sometimes schools and colleges arrange activities involving the World Day of Social Justice. Even within a single nation, celebrations vary. This holiday covers a pretty broad topic and while it would be great to be able to uphold, promote, and encourage every single ideal that World Day of Social Justice covers, it certainly wouldn't be easy.
This is where the UN decided to help out a bit. While the main ideals of World Day of Social Justice largely remains the same, each year focuses on a different aspect of social justice or a different theme. In 2014, the theme was "inclusive growth and decent work." In 2015, the theme was "ending human trafficking and forced labour."
As for 2016? I simply do not know. It seems that this year's theme is nowhere to be found, but I am sure it will be revealed as the holiday nears. Meanwhile, mark the date, and honor this holiday in whichever way you can or choose to do so.
Or, otherwise, just mark the date so you can have an excuse to celebrate.
Where I'm from, people say some holidays were invented by card companies so that they could make more money. I don't know if this is true or not. However, there is a holiday coming up that was definitely not made up by a card company. This holiday took forever to get established, and it even has a new theme every year.
On 20 February, the United Nations (UN) celebrates World Day of Social Justice. This day is dedicated to tackling problems such as poverty, discrimination, limited rights, and unemployment. It was introduced in order to encourage and spread social justice. This holiday mainly focuses on human rights and freedoms, though it also deals with employment and unity.
World Day of Social Justice was celebrated for the first time in 2009. However, its origins stretch back to the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, where over a hundred political leaders vowed to bring about social justice for their people. It took ten years before the matter was considered again. In 2005, UN member states decided to continue the pursuit of social justice at the Commission for Social Development. Even then, it wasn't until 2007 that the General Assembly introduced the idea of World Day of Social Justice. It wasn't until another two years later, in 2009, that the holiday was actually celebrated.
The General Assembly asked UN member states to dedicate this day to social justice, unity, agreement, and equality within and between nations, equal chances to all, human rights and freedoms, fairness, and impartiality. Additionally, it focused on putting an end to poverty as well as on encouraging employment, and upholding the standard of gender equality.
Considering that this is a holiday celebrated by all member states of the UN, it shouldn't be surprising that there are many different ways of celebrating World Day of Social Justice. Some nations bring forth plans to improve employment rates and stop poverty within their own countries. Trade unions and other groups are encouraged to inform members about this holiday. The Russian General Confederation of Trade Unions even uses the motto "Social Justice and Decent Life for All." Sometimes schools and colleges arrange activities involving the World Day of Social Justice. Even within a single nation, celebrations vary. This holiday covers a pretty broad topic and while it would be great to be able to uphold, promote, and encourage every single ideal that World Day of Social Justice covers, it certainly wouldn't be easy.
This is where the UN decided to help out a bit. While the main ideals of World Day of Social Justice largely remains the same, each year focuses on a different aspect of social justice or a different theme. In 2014, the theme was "inclusive growth and decent work." In 2015, the theme was "ending human trafficking and forced labour."
As for 2016? I simply do not know. It seems that this year's theme is nowhere to be found, but I am sure it will be revealed as the holiday nears. Meanwhile, mark the date, and honor this holiday in whichever way you can or choose to do so.
Or, otherwise, just mark the date so you can have an excuse to celebrate.