World Day of Social Justice is on the 20th February 2021, yet it’s not as widely known as it could be. For all of those people fighting against poverty, inequality and unemployment, this is an important day to factor in change and what is truly being done around the world. The UN’s commemorative event supports the efforts of the international community to seek sustainable development, eradicate poverty, promote full employment and decent work, universal social protection, gender equality, and social welfare and justice for all.

But, what is the definition of Social Justice?

As defined by the UN, “Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. 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.”

So, what is the World Day of Social Justice?

It’s an international celebration, or rather an observation, enabling people to see how social justice contributes to the eradication of poverty. The 20th February as World Day of Social Justice was announced by the UN on the 26th November 2007 to be celebrated annually from 2009, focusing on varying social justice issues such as unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, exclusion and human rights.

For some background, The International Labour Organization unanimously adopted The Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization on 10 June 2008. The Declaration was put forward at a crucial political moment, reflecting the unanimous agreement that globalization must have a strong social influence in order to achieve improved and just results for everyone. It also highlights the importance of sustainable businesses to create a better economy – which is, as you know, our vision at The Do-Gooders.

This year’s theme is “A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy”. As of the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of the internet has become a necessity and working from home the norm. However, this has widened the gap between developed and developing countries as access to the internet, its affordability and availability are still sparse in developing countries. This year’s theme of the digital era aims to overcome that digital divide to further aid decent work opportunities as well as protect labour and human rights.

What can you do for Social Justice?

Educate yourself

There is no quick fix when it comes to social justice but taking the time to research and educate yourself on the matter can make a big difference. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the movements as knowing exactly what you stand for can help you recognize when something is wrong and also educate others. Some resources to get you started:

BLM resources:
Blacklivesmatter.com
Blacklivesmatters.carrd.co
103 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice

LGBTQ+ resources:
www.glaad.org/resourcelist
LGBTQIA resources
Best practice, toolkits and resources

support brands that fight for social justice

Your might think this is a hard task, but at The Do-Gooders we’ve made it super easy with our categories based on brand’s values. Explore brands championing cultural and ethnic diversity, supporting refugees, guarantying fair working conditions throughout their supply chain, and supporting women – you’ll sure find a daily essential or something completely new , and feel great about your purchase.

Be vocal on social media

Social media is a force to be reckoned with. Once an issue is out there, the internet won’t stop until there’s justice. This can be seen with the BLM movement;  #justiceforbreonna and #justiceforgeorgefloyd, sharing matters and the more you share, the more people can hear. So if you can’t join a protest then speak loud on socials, your voice matters. 

Donate to a movement

Maybe you can’t share on social media or go to a protest but every penny you donate counts. Any and all charities will appreciate your support and you can find a list of charities here and here. Additionally, you can find many Go Fund Me fundraisers helping individuals that might have lost their homes, need help with bills or otherwise. 

Social Justice isn’t just talked about on this day, it’s every day and everywhere. Let’s all help fight against poverty, inequality, unemployment and exclusion to build a better future for all.

Words by Jess Morgan