World Day of Social Justice
Achieve Social Justice and Protect Human Rights
with Actions of Conscience
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze
President of Federation of World Peace and Love
Vice-President of Association of World Citizens
Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men
Feb. 20, 2022
On this important day of the UN-designated World Day of Social Justice, I’m very pleased to meet with you virtually. Although the road to social justice has been difficult, with both successes and disappointments, the long-lasting fight for social justice has never stopped. We take this opportunity to honor the efforts of global citizens who have worked together for the realization of social justice, human rights, and equal opportunity and participation while supporting one another, planning for the future, actively addressing the inequality gap, and promoting social justice.
Deepening inequality is becoming one of the main characteristics of today's world. Inequality leads to not only a decline in productivity, but also a widening wealth gap, uneven resource distribution, social instability, emotional imbalance, and even conflict. These pose a threat to social cohesion, economic growth, and human progress. Coupled with the coronavirus’ rampage, climate change, demographic shifts, technological developments, the rise of digital nomads, and increasing globalization, we are witnessing massive changes in the world at an unprecedented pace. To help countries in the world develop steadily, it is becoming increasingly important and urgent to achieve social justice. Global citizens must continue to strive for social justice because it has not yet been fully realized.
The United Nations aims to promote social development for all in a globalized world, based on the principles of justice, equity, democracy, participation, transparency, accountability, and inclusion, as well as the commitment of boosting national and global economies. The three core objectives of social justice development–poverty eradication, full employment, and social integration–aim to achieve social justice, stability, harmony, and equality within and among countries. The realization of a "society for all" must be based on social justice and respect for and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. We must promote equal distribution of resources by providing equality and opportunities for all, in order to eliminate undesirable conditions and barriers arising from inequality based on gender, age, ethnicity, religion, culture, or disability.
The core of the solution to all social injustices is conscience. Conscience is a heart that embraces all beings and all things. It teaches people to love themselves, others, and the world, ensuring that all beings are treated fairly. The conscience in our hearts is the key to the true realization of our love for the world and wishes for peace. With conscience, we can truly understand the disadvantaged and develop the will to fight for their rights. With the awakening of conscience, we realize that others’ success is our success, and their loss is also our loss, and that helping others is helping ourselves. Therefore, social justice is about building an inclusive society that respects human rights, where no one is neglected or harmed, and everyone's rights are protected.
To achieve social justice, we must bravely act with conscience. As long as we calm our hearts and listen, conscience will help us understand the needs of people and the dynamics of the world. Conscience helps us understand how to make the world a better place as well as helps us realize that human rights are natural endowments and cannot be taken away by anyone. When people's conscience is awakened, they will naturally have the courage to seek justice, advocate for human rights, stand up for themselves, for others, and for society, and push for a more just and inclusive system.
According to the United Nations General Assembly, social development and social justice are necessary to achieve and maintain peace and security within and among nations, and social development and social justice cannot be achieved without peace, security, and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms. To truly achieve social justice, it must be implemented in our daily lives, which means paying attention to the injustices that occur around us, fighting them, and addressing the root causes. This also means going beyond our comfort zone to care about broader social injustices and the basic human rights that are being ignored. As global citizens, we are all important members of the global community, and we should reassess whether our actions and purposes are consistent with the social justice associated with our way of life, our environment, and the planet. Each one of us can start with ourselves and extend our influence to ensure equality and justice in our families, workplaces, communities, societies, nations, and internationally.
Every person is born with conscience, and conscience guides us in our search for social justice. We must humbly listen to the reminders of our conscience, learn from it, and apply it in our actions. Global citizens all aspire to social justice, and it is the mission of all global citizens to fight for social justice for everyone. By observing the World Day of Social Justice in our respective positions and by continuing to practice social protection, social dialogue, and human rights activism with sincerity, we help to consolidate the international community's efforts to eradicate poverty, promote full employment, gender equality, social well-being, and social justice for all, and to promote world peace and global sustainability.
Thank you for your participation! Let us walk together happily and fearlessly on the road to social justice! At the beginning of the Lunar New Year, I wish you all happiness, safety, and peace!
*Presented at the ICDAY’s virtual event in support of UN World Day of Social Justice