World Social Justice Day

Today, February 20th, is the World Day of Social Justice an international day recognising the need to promote social justice. Adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on 10 June 2008, approved by the UN on 26 November 2007 and starting in 2009, this day seeks to raise awareness about the importance of creating a fair and inclusive society for all

At the heart of the day is the ILO Declaration which focuses on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all, through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights.

World Social Justice Day, and cooperatives and community businesses, share a profound connection rooted in their commitment to fostering fairness, inclusivity, and economic equality.

Cooperatives, as collaborative enterprises owned and operated by their members, embody social justice principles by prioritising democratic decision-making, equitable distribution of benefits, and community empowerment. These entities contribute directly to addressing the social and economic disparities we see around us.

While the UN points out that momentum is growing around the belief that social justice is a vital, central tenet of happy and healthy societies, significant injustices persist and there is much work to be done.

On this day, we look around us at the cooperatives and community businesses we work with and we see that change is possible when people are put at the heart.