Dr. KHALID UL ISLAM
The subject for this year is “Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice,” which focuses on the suggestions made in Our Common Agenda to promote international cooperation and to restore public confidence in the government. As a result, the 2023 World Day of Social Justice offers a chance to encourage discussion with Member States, young people, social partners, civil society organisations, UN agencies, and other stakeholders about the steps that must be taken to strengthen the social contract that has been shattered by escalating inequality, armed conflicts, and weak institutions that are supposed to protect workers’ rights. In spite of these several problems, there are numerous chances to forge a social justice coalition and to increase investments in decent jobs, with an emphasis on the green, digital, and care economies as well as on young people.
The 2023 World Day of Social Justice presents an opportunity to foster dialogue with Member States, young people, social partners, civil society organisations, UN agencies, and other stakeholders on the steps necessary to strengthen the social contract, which has been shattered by rising inequality, conflicts, and shoddy institutions meant to protect worker rights. Despite these numerous obstacles, there are numerous chances to build a social justice alliance and boost funding for decent jobs, with a focus on young people, the green, digital, and care sectors.
Social justice is the idea that every person deserves an equal opportunity to enjoy economic, political, and social rights. The goal of social workers is to widen doors of opportunity and access for everyone, but especially for those who are most in need. What therefore is social justice in the context of social work, and how does it advance this fundamental goal of social workers? Making ensuring that children receive equal opportunity, participate in decision-making, and receive the needs for success are a few social justice examples in social work. Social workers improve the social welfare of their young clients by advancing social justice in social work.
A social worker’s daily responsibilities may include advocating for social justice. In social work, the concepts of social justice are applied to the elderly, children, impoverished, and disabled. When social workers work with children in a social justice capacity, they make every effort to ensure that the kids get what they need and are treated with dignity and respect as equals.
Social Justice in Education
Although “social justice” has gained popularity recently, it has been around for hundreds of years. The Industrial Revolution and the uprisings in Europe during the 19th century gave the idea of social justice additional significance. People began protesting against risky working conditions, exploitation, and other unjust institutions. The fair allocation of opportunities and privileges as they pertain to certain people within a society is at the heart of social justice. Initially focusing mostly on wealth and property, social justice has expanded to include issues with the environment, racism, gender, and education.
Why
Two types of social justice are present in education. The first is the degree of equality within the actual educational system and social justice in practise. Social injustice occurs when a person’s access to education is determined by criteria including wealth, gender, and/or race. Students who are not afforded the same educational opportunities as more fortunate students are given a weak foundation for the rest of their lives. It may be more difficult for them to maintain a specific standard of living, which could limit their access to safety, decent housing, and healthcare. A society suffers when the educational system isn’t devoted to granting equal opportunities and benefits since it has a detrimental cultural and economic impact.
Social justice education in schools is the second manifestation of social justice in education. The curriculum with a social justice framework is deliberately intended to extend students’ worldviews by embracing opposing viewpoints and concepts. A social justice education paradigm addresses very real-world issues including sexism, racism, poverty, and more, rather than dismissing them and encouraging students to use analytical thinking. Schools that are dedicated to social justice in education take great care in selecting their curricula and considering how it might be used to broaden students’ horizons.
(Author is Associate Biostatistician. Email: [email protected])
