Today is the United Nation’s (UN) World Day of Social Justice, where poverty eradication, full employment, decent work, gender equality and access to social wellbeing and justice for all are promoted globally.

Placing poverty eradication under the umbrella of social justice changes the way we think about and deal with poverty. It makes poverty eradication not just about altruistic gestures of charity but a matter of human rights.

In human rights theory, there are two types of rights: the first are civil and political rights, such as the right to freedom of speech, opinion and religion. The other type are social, economic and cultural rights, such as the right to access adequate healthcare, education and social support. Under this definition, poverty is a direct violation of a person’s human rights because those living under the weight of it have limited access to their basic needs such as nutritious food, clean drinking water, adequate shelter, proper healthcare and education.

Social, economic and cultural rights not only address the issue of poverty but also inequality, which is closely linked.

The gap between the poorest and the wealthiest around the world is wide and growing... We must do more to empower individuals through decent work, support people through social protection, and ensure the voices of the poor and marginalised are heard.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the UN

According to a recent report by Oxfam, the bottom half of the world’s population owns the same as the richest 85 people in the world. Furthermore, it’s estimated that $21 trillion is held in tax havens offshore and unrecorded.

But the problem is also closer to home. In Australia, almost 10% of the national income goes to the richest 1%. In some of the countries where we work (India, Indonesia and China), around 30% of their national income is acquired by the richest 10%.

The troubling issue here is not so much about wealth, who owns it and where it’s kept. It’s about making sure that everyone can receive a hand up and equal opportunities. You and I can play a role in promoting social justice not by focusing on the problem, but by being the solution.

Nelson Mandela said:

Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times – times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry and wealth accumulation – that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils.

Changing the way I look at poverty changes me. It stops becoming a matter of dollars and cents. It’s about giving someone the right to freedom from want; dignity and a brighter future.

In honour of the day, I invite you to do what you can to change this injustice and give families in so much need their right to earn an income and leave poverty behind – for good.

Sources:
http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bp-working-for-few-political-capture-economic-inequality-200114-en.pdf
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/commission-website-information-students-human-rights-essentials-frequently-asked-questions-human
http://www.un.org/en/events/socialjusticeday/

At Opportunity International Australia, Stephanie Hristovska is the Communications Coordinator, supporting the organisation in a range of communications activities.