The Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) joins the international community and human rights defenders in reaffirming our collective commitment to building fair and inclusive societies. The World Day of Social Justice calls attention to the ongoing global struggle against poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and many others.
The ACHRS recognizes the importance of this Day due to its close ties to our priorities, particularly the advocacy of equality, non-discrimination, and economic and social protection. We view social protection as a pillar for the understanding of human rights, as it ensures that all individuals can live with dignity and participate fully in society, especially those in marginalized situations.
This Day provides us with an opportunity to highlight how social justice is promoted in the Arab World. A number of important pathways contribute to advancing social justice, among them:
- Legal reform is the process of reviewing and improving laws to ensure they protect rights and promote equality. A number of countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE have introduced legislative reforms addressing discrimination, gender-based violence, and labor protection. The ACHRS stresses that the effectiveness of legal reform depends on fair implementation, independent courts, and accessible remedies so individuals can fully exercise their rights.
- Human rights strategies are official government plans that set priorities for improving human rights protection. Several Arab countries such as Bahrain, Jordan, and Egypt have adopted national action plans and frameworks which achieve equality, non-discrimination, and social protection. If these plans are developed with regular input from civil society they can help strengthen institutions and better protect human rights.
- Expansion of social protection programs involves increasing access to services and implementing them to support people facing economic and/or social vulnerability. Widening access to healthcare, education, financial assistance, and social security is an example of this expansion. In addition to targeting senior persons and persons with disabilities as it plays a critical role in reducing social exclusion. We emphasize that social protection systems should be rights-based, accessible to all, and adequately funded.
Armed violence in Palestine has caused widespread injuries and disabilities, excessively affecting civilians. Palestine has the highest documented number of child amputees resulting from armed conflict in the region. Armed violence in Sudan has triggered one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises. More than 30 million people in Sudan suffer from acute hunger and famine conditions. The scale of these attacks constitute prima facie genocide under international law. Urgent measures are needed to protect civilians and uphold human rights.
The ACHRS reaffirms its commitment to promoting social justice through human rights education, advocacy, and regional cooperation. On this Day, we encourage governments, civil society organizations, and community actors to participate towards carrying out inclusive policies and effective social protection systems. As all the countries in the Arab World have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, they now carry a legal obligation to uphold, implement, and translate these commitments into tangible progress. We believe that building just societies is a shared responsibility and that continued cooperation is essential to ensure that all individuals can equally fulfil their rights.
Click here to read more about the World Day of Social Justice.
