First Annual U.N. Day of Social Justice

Today is the first annual United Nations (U.N.) World Day of Social Justice.

Member countries that celebrate the day are holding events that uphold the goals of the U.N.’s World Summit for Social Development, which include ending poverty, encouraging the full inclusion of every citizen in society, and striving to provide full employment and gender equality.

“Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants.  We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.”

The U.N. is commemorating the first World Day of Social Justice by convening an interactive-panel discussion entitled “Social Justice for a Fair Globalization,” which brings together international leaders to discuss the importance of social justice and the challenges in achieving a more just society.