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Social justice means a life determined on human rights and equality. This is spelt out
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for a life free from want and fear. And there
are very many UN Conventions where states have undertaken obligations to ensure that
all their policies and actions deliver on social justice and to respect the equality
of all people. Unfortunately this is not the case, because as I've experienced in my own
country under apartheid, for illegitimate reasons such as the colour of my skin I was
discriminated. And of course along with discrimination goes poverty because you do not have opportunities
of good education or job opportunities. And I then see all of this coming out more recently
with the financial and economic crisis where policies are determined for the benefit of
the privileged few rather than everyone, every citizen in a country.
You know, to the question, flowing from the financial and economic crisis and whether
economic growth can go hand in hand with social justice, I would say surely because that is
what has been spelt out in the summit, held by the United Nations, where all the governments
agree to deliver and achieve the Millennium Development Goals, by doing exactly that,
that economic growth - which we need, because economic growth creates jobs and facilitates
the advancement of people - but the policies should not be driven by privileging a few.
I know some countries for instance, that can boast that they have the largest number of
billionaires in the world. And they give that as an indicator of their economic growth and
their achievements. On the other hand, farmers in that country may be committing suicide
because they are unable to get seeds, they can't sell their produce at a reasonable price,
and the drought and all the environmental degradation affects them. And so economic
growth has to, in my view, have human rights as the central basis, central approach, and
they can't go wrong if they do that.
In respect of social justice for women, let me say how appalling the facts are, and that
with a view that the summit on the Millennium Development Goals, that women fall into the
most vulnerable category. They are the poorest, and they are at the bottom of the ladder and
feel the worst effects of just every kind of ills in the world whether it stems from
the banking crisis, the environmental crisis and sheer neglect by their governments. It
makes economic sense to educate women. They are obviously 50 per cent of the population,
so it doesn't make economic sense that they are not being used, their skills and knowledge
are not being used for the advancement of society in general. I'm very concerned about
violations that women suffer, such as domestic violence and *** violence, *** and ***
violence, this occurs globally. So not a country is free from these kinds of violations. It's
not only a human right, a moral right to respect the equal rights of women, but as I said,
it also makes economic sense. It will promote economic growth and above all deliver on social
justice if women are given a proper place not only as cases of charity or victims but
as participants in the process.
Can social justice ever be achieved for all? Firstly, I feel very positive about all the
solidarity amongst people, both civil society and governments and institutions such as the
United Nations that are focussing on these issues and trying to galvanize social justice,
trying to encourage states to exhibit more political will. And I feel a combination of
greater political will and solidarity by the people will bring us closer to achieving social
justice, ending deprivations, discrimination and delivering on human rights obligations.
Why I feel positive about it is we have now very many mechanisms, treaties, that states
have signed up to: the Universal Periodic Review in the Human Rights Council where states
have voluntarily undertaken to implement recommendations that deliver on equality, human rights and
to have a participatory inclusive process where people can participate and have a say
in matters of policy that affect them. I think that it's very important that we can hold
states to the obligations that they have voluntarily undertaken. We did not have many of these
in the past. Now we do. So it's left to all of us to coordinate our efforts and work together
with states to achieve social justice for all. ?