Social justice is crucial for all. Social justice — which refers to the fair and equitable distribution of resources, opportunities and privileges within a society — is needed for addressing poverty and discrimination and providing opportunities with the ultimate goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable world for all. It is also vital for the protection of human rights and striving for a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and can reach his/her full potential regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status or any other characteristic. But there is a lack of social justice for a significant portion of men and women in many countries, though the world is developing in economic and other terms.
There are definitely economic, social and other factors that lead to social injustice, the unfair treatment of individuals or groups in society based on various factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, or disability, in different countries. Unjust policies, systemic oppression and societal prejudices, which perpetuate inequality and marginalization, are some vital factors behind social injustice in many countries. Among others, political repression and racism also lead to social injustice. Consequently, according to multiple sources including the BBC, many have unequal access to economic and other resources and opportunities based on race, gender, or socio-economic status in different countries. But social injustice prevents marginalized communities comparatively more from accessing resources and opportunities, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage and inequality, in many countries.
Governments have taken legal, policy-based and other steps with the aim to address systemic inequalities and create a more equitable society for all individuals. Different countries have implemented anti-discrimination laws and economic and other policies to promote equal access to education, healthcare and income opportunities for all citizens including those in remote and disadvantaged areas. Among others, the governments have established programs aimed at reducing poverty, addressing income inequality and providing assistance to marginalized communities — caused by poverty, historical repression and several other factors. In addition to the governments, non-government and other organizations have taken programmatic and other steps including economic and social empowerment initiatives in many countries to promote social justice.
Because of the steps taken, social injustice has definitely been reduced in many areas including income and education in different countries including in less developed countries. But there are diverse flaws in the government and other steps taken that hinder the effectiveness of initiatives and undermine the desired outcomes of social justice efforts in many countries. Limited focus on disadvantaged groups, inadequate implementation of anti-discriminatory legal and policy steps, a lack of transparency and accountability in government organizations and insufficient resources allocated towards marginalized communities are some of the crucial limitations. Steps consequently fall short of fully achieving their intended goals.
To ensure social justice, it is crucial to address challenges. But the emphasis needs to be given to both making and implementing anti-discriminatory laws and and policies. Addressing systemic oppression and providing economic, political and other opportunities without any discrimination are vital to fighting social injustice in many countries. Promoting diversity and empowering individuals to have a voice in decision-making processes may be helpful in many countries. Actively engaging marginalized communities and taking their input may help gain valuable insights into the flaws within steps and ensure social justice many times.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
