February 20 marks World Day of Social Justice
Baku, February 20, AZERTAC
In 2026, the World Day of Social Justice is commemorated under the theme “Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice,” according to UN.
This year's observance takes place at a critical juncture, following the Second World Summit for Social Development and the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration. In reaffirming the commitments of the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, Member States have underscored poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work for all, and social inclusion as the interrelated pillars of social development.
This year’s theme reflects both recognition of progress achieved and acknowledgement of persistent and emerging challenges. While significant gains have been recorded in poverty reduction, education and social protection coverage, structural inequalities, labour market informality, gender disparities, and declining trust in institutions continue to impede inclusive and sustainable development. A renewed commitment therefore entails strengthening policy coherence across economic, social, and environmental dimensions, reinforcing multilateral cooperation, and placing equity and solidarity at the center of global policymaking.
From Political Commitment to Implementation
Guided by the Doha Political Declaration and the outcomes of the sixty-fourth session of the Commission for Social Development, the 2026 observance emphasizes the imperative of translating political commitments into concrete and measurable outcomes. Advancing social development and social justice requires coordinated, equitable and inclusive policies that integrate the social dimension across macroeconomic, labour, climate, digital, and industrial strategies.
In this regard, Member States have reaffirmed the need for macroeconomic frameworks that generate decent employment opportunities and living wages, strengthen labour market institutions, and ensure universal social protection. Particular emphasis is placed on promoting gender equality, expanding opportunities for young people, supporting transitions from the informal to the formal economy, and ensuring fair and inclusive transformations in the digital and green economies. Enhanced multi-stakeholder collaboration among governments, international organizations, social partners and civil society, is essential to mobilize resources, foster policy innovation, and accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, leaving no one behind.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) unanimously adopted the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization on 10 June 2008. This is the third major statement of principles and policies adopted by the International Labour Conference since the ILO’s Constitution of 1919. It builds on the Philadelphia Declaration of 1944 and the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998. The 2008 Declaration expresses the contemporary vision of the ILO’s mandate in the era of globalization.
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