58th Commission for Social Development

The UN Commemorates the World Day of Social Justice 2020

News | 14 February 2020
NEW YORK (ILO News) – Commemorating the annual World Day of Social Justice, governments and stakeholders gathered at the United Nations Headquarters to discuss the importance of reducing inequalities. This year’s commemoration, entitled “Closing the Inequalities Gap to Achieve Social Justice”, coincided with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development (1995), whereby world leaders pledged to overcome poverty, reach full employment and foster social integration. During the commemorative event, Member States reaffirmed their commitment to social justice as the core element in pursuing sustainable development and reducing inequalities globally.

Recent waves of globalization, notably in international trade and finance, have had little impact in reducing global inequality both within and between countries. While extreme poverty has been reduced, income and wealth are increasingly concentrated. Most economies are growing, but the labour share of national income is declining, and large portions of the world’s workforce have experienced real wage stagnation. Inequalities pose an obstacle to the achievement of social justice and sustainable development.

In her opening statement, the co-host of the event, H.E. Mrs. Mirgul Moldoisaeva, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations, highlighted that social justice was an essential precondition for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She emphasized that issues such as poverty, unemployment and social exclusion were manifestations of inequality in every country. Countries in special situations, such as those with mountainous populations, faced additional challenges for overcoming inequality and required tailored policy solutions. She reaffirmed Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to achieving social justice and reducing inequalities.
The keynote speaker, H.E. Mr. Péter Szijjártó, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, underscored the importance of providing job opportunities as a means for achieving social justice. Experimental policies were being implemented in Hungary such as tax exemptions based on number of children in a household and mandatory kindergarten to help decrease the burden of unpaid care work. Hungary had also implemented dual vocational training systems, which allows companies to be involved in curriculum design. It had provided relevant training for students to ensure that their skills match the needs of the labour market.

Dr. C. Nicole Mason, President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Women’s Policy Research, emphasized the importance of promoting women’s economic empowerment and to achieve equal pay for women and men in order to realize the full potential of individuals and societies. Effectively reducing inequalities required policy actions that elevate women’s opportunities, especially in the labour market. She affirmed that the opposite of poverty not wealth, but justice.

Mr. Roberto Simon, Senior Director for Policy, Americas Society/Council of the Americas, and Politics Editor, Americas Quarterly, provided a regional perspective on inequalities. As Latin American countries transitioned to democracy decades ago, social justice became a key priority. While the Latin American region has made significant development progress, more remains to be done to ensure decent work and opportunities for all. Political challenges have arisen from people’s sense of injustice. The economic slowdown since 2014 and various corruption scandals had generated a mistrust in institutions. The changing landscape of digital technologies and social media was contributing to further polarization. There was a need to re-establish social justice in the centre of policy making to ensure social cohesion and prosperity.

Mr. Ben Slay, Senior Economist, Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS, UNDP, presented the main findings of the Human Development Report 2019 - Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today: Inequalities in human development in the 21st century. The report highlighted the importance of assessing development through other indicators beyond income, such as education and health. Countries that score high on the Human Development Index do not necessarily score high when the index is adjusted for inequalities, suggesting that despite a high development average, people within a country may experience vast differences in life expectancy, educational attainment and income per capita. Inequalities in the future would be impacted by current access to technology. While women were as well-educated as men in middle-income and upper-income countries, only 1 in 4 graduates with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees were women. When tackling inequalities, it was important to implement policies that comprehensively promote equal opportunities for all.

Ms. Shea Gopaul, Special Representative of the International Organisation of Employers to the United Nations, and Ms. Bettina Luise Rürup, Executive Director, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, participated as lead discussants. Representing the voice of business, Ms. Gopaul underscored that decent jobs were crucial for social mobility. It was essential to create an enabling business environment where small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other businesses could flourish. Ms. Rürup raised concerns about the high concentration of wealth and decreasing social spending by the public sector. Increased social dialogue with trade unions and employers was necessary to reduce inequalities and achieve social justice.

The interactive discussion highlighted the intersectionality of inequalities. Participants posited about the role of technology, combined with economic and social policies, could be used to address inequalities. Permanent Representatives and other participants emphasized the importance of inclusive policies and social protection systems. Closing the inequalities gap required decent work for all, which was a precondition for achieving social justice.