OTTAWA – The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice is annually observed on February 20th. It is to encourage people to look at how social justice is being planned for and promoted by our governments to support strong communities at home and around the world.
“Over the past decade we have seen the centralization of power in government and large corporations, the rapidly growing disparity between the rich and the poor, while, at the same time, the middle class continues to be economically squeezed. More and more cases are being observed of migrant abuse while Canadian labour suffers,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands.
In his 2013 World Day of Social Justice message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared “We see far too many places where there are increasing opportunities for a few and only rising inequality for the many.”
“It is time for all Canadians to reread our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and ask ourselves if we are making real progress both economically and socially. Are we promoting these Canadian values abroad? If not, as citizens, we must demand more of our Government or begin preparing now for the change we need in 2015,” said Joe Foster, Human Rights Critic for the Green Party.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 20 February as World Day of Social Justice in 2007, inviting Member States to devote the day to promoting national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly.
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Media Contact:
Stéphane Vigneault
Communications Coordinator, Green Party of Canada
cell: 613.614.4916