For the World Day of Social Justice
Friday 20 February 2014
Social justice fosters peace, peace enables social justice
GENEVA (19 February 2015) – Message by the United Nations
Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international
order, Alfred de Zayas, to mark the World Day of Social Justice, 20 February
2015.
“The World Day of Social Justice was launched by the General
Assembly on 26 November 2007 to reaffirm the conflict-preventive function of
social justice and urge all States, inter-governmental organizations, and the
international community to proactively advance social development and social
justice as the foundations of lasting international peace and security.
The source of many of today’s problems lies in systemic
social injustice and widespread discrimination. It is futile to look for the
root causes of terrorism in any one religion – since all religions are based on
universal aspirations of peace and human dignity. Among the root causes are economic and trade
imbalances, a history of intervention, exploitation and extreme poverty.
Solutions cannot be sought in a military surge, but in a
wider understanding of the problems that drive people, especially young people,
to despair and violence.
The financial crisis of 2007/2008 and beyond was primarily a
moral crisis, a result of wrong priorities, irresponsible financial
transactions and the deregulation of markets. The solution cannot only be the
imposition of austerity measures on social services, which has on many
occasions resulted in widespread unemployment, further aggravated social
injustice and impacted the already weak and marginalized.
Among necessary solutions are the creation of jobs and
infrastructures through targeted governmental and private investment. Let
governments implement austerity measures by downsizing the military and
refraining from wars and other military adventures – which have a huge human
and financial cost.
An equitable international order is impossible without
social justice, human dignity, and non-discrimination as prerequisites for
sustainable economic and social development.
International trade and investment agreements must be informed by an
overall goal to achieve social justice worldwide and to improve labour
standards in conformity with the relevant ILO conventions. This in turn requires proactive genuine
public consultation by the governments and agencies concerned, with due regard
given to the interests of non-participating countries that should not be
negatively impacted as a result of agreements that benefit only a few at the
expense of many.
A democratic and equitable international order requires
consultation of all stakeholders and genuine public participation at the local,
national and regional levels.
Parliamentarians have a particular responsibility to watch over and
ensure the democratic legitimacy of all global trade agreements and refrain
from fast-tracking their adoption with the ultimate effect of circumventing the
will of the populations concerned.
Social justice and empowerment of groups at risk of
marginalization underpin the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda and are
crucial components of this transformative programme of action, driven by formal
commitments by the international community to eradicate extreme poverty, raise
health standards and protect the environment as common heritage of mankind.
Buttressed by the work of the International Labour
Organization (ILO), including the Decent Work Agenda, the World Day of Social
Justice underscores that while globalization and global interdependence
generate significant opportunities by way of international trade, serious
challenges remain, including growing inequality within and among societies.
By its emphasis on assuring fair outcomes through greater
employment, extending social protection, encouraging social dialogue, and
achieving respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, the ILO’s
‘Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization’ of 2008, puts forward
concrete ways to give meaning to its overarching motto: ‘If you desire peace,
cultivate justice’.
All United Nations’ organs, agencies, and independent
experts have a responsibility to mainstream social justice into their
approaches and activities. The world is weary of nominal invocation of the
rights to health, education, development, employment and gender equality
without pragmatic measures of implementation.
It is our pledge to act in solidarity and focus on the situation on the
ground by ensuring that social justice becomes reality for all persons without
discrimination.
In this context, it remains imperative that global economic
systems are rooted in the principles of justice, equity, democracy,
participation, transparency, accountability and inclusion, as stipulated in the
resolution that established the World Day of Social Justice.”
ENDS
Alfred de Zayas (United States of America) was appointed as
the first Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable
international order by the Human Rights Council, effective May 2012. He is
currently professor of international law at the Geneva School of Diplomacy. Mr.
de Zayas practiced corporate law and family law in New York and Florida. As a
Human Rights Council’s mandate holder, he is independent from any government or
organization and serves in his individual capacity. Learn more, log on to:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IntOrder/Pages/IEInternationalorderIndex.asp
The Independent Experts are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
For more information and media requests, please contact Mr.
Thibaut Guillet (+41 22 917 93 89 / tguillet@ohchr.org) or write to
ie-internationalorder@ohchr.org
UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/UNrightswire
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR
Nema komentara:
Objavi komentar