Social and Economic Justice

Social justice is a fundamental principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence among nations. We foster social justice when we eliminate the barriers people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, or disability." — Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations.**

"Social and Economic Justice" is a complex yet essential concept for establishing a profoundly and genuinely equitable and inclusive society. Its purpose is to ensure that all individuals have equal access to resources, opportunities, and rights, regardless of race, gender, social class, or any other characteristic.

Recognizing and addressing systemic inequalities that perpetuate poverty and exclusion is fundamental, followed by the implementation of programs to combat them. In Brazil, for example, income disparities are deeply influenced by racial and gender factors. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Black women earn, on average, only 44% of the wages of white men, highlighting a clear intersection between race and gender in perpetuating economic inequalities.

Turning our attention to another relevant aspect, the UN emphasizes the importance of education in promoting social and economic justice. In its report The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021, the UN states that "education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights." Access to quality, contextualized education is crucial to empower individuals and communities to break the cycle of poverty and achieve social mobility. UN data shows that in 2020, around 258 million children and young people were out of school — an alarming number that underscores the urgency of educational investment. And that does not even account for the injustices related to the quality levels of education itself.

Another vital aspect is equity in the labor market. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), "the promotion of decent work for all is essential to reduce poverty and promote social justice." The pursuit of social and economic justice is ongoing and requires persistent efforts to ensure that everyone has access to fair employment opportunities and dignified working conditions. According to the ILO, the global unemployment rate stood at 5% in 2023.

Public policies are the framework for structuring social and economic justice. Income transfer programs, such as Bolsa Família in Brazil, have proven effective in reducing extreme poverty and promoting social inclusion — yet it is clear that this type of program is only the minimum that should be done. Internationally, a notable example is India’s Agricultural Subsidy Program, which provides financial support to small farmers to ensure food security and promote rural development.

The intersection between social and economic justice and environmental sustainability also cannot be ignored. Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai once said: "What people need to understand is that the fight to save the environment is inseparable from the fight to ensure social justice." Preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable practices are crucial to ensuring that future generations have access to the same resources and opportunities. The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the importance of integrating environmental sustainability into all development policies in order to achieve true social justice.

In sum, social and economic justice is a complex goal that requires collaboration across all sectors of society and an urgent need for policies that foster structural change. As poet and feminist activist Audre Lorde said: "We are not free while others are oppressed." Therefore, it is imperative that we all work together to dismantle conditions of oppression and build a fairer and more equitable world for everyone.