FIINOVATION OBSERVES – WORLD SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY

World Social Justice Day is observed annually on 20^th February for promoting efforts to tackle global issues such as poverty, unemployment, gender equality and exclusion to create an equitable society for all. It promotes social justice, solidarity, harmony & equality for marginalised communities, women and immigrants. The theme of World Justice Day in 2017 is “Preventing conflict and sustaining peace through decent work”. On this day many organisations including the United Nations and International Labour Organisation present plans and issue statements regarding the promotion of social justice. Additionally, campaign groups, trade unions and volunteers are also invited to mark their support on this day.

In 2007, the World Day of Social Justice was introduced in the UN agenda. It urged governments to focus on three important aspects;

a) reaffirmation of commitments made in Geneva Development Summit 1995,

b) recalling the commitment to promote national and global economic systems based on the principles of justice, equity, democracy participation, transparency, accountability and inclusion and

c) reaffirming the commitment made in the 2005 World Summit Outcome to full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for women and young people.

Keeping focus on these aspects will remove the barriers that people face because of their gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.

Equality is the basic fundamental right of every society and in order to achieve the same, governments have created a framework for action to promote social justice at national, regional and international levels. The governments accept the fact that holistic economic growth can be achieved only by promoting equitable distribution of income, resources and providing everyone an equal opportunity for growth and development irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, culture or disability. They promote the belief that only social justice can help in achieving the peaceful coexistence within and among the nations.

United Nations also promotes social justice as part of their global mission to achieve equality for all. The recent adoption of the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization by the International Labour Organisation is one example of the UN system’s commitment to social justice. The Declaration focuses on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, fundamental principles and rights at work.

Fiinovation through its association with corporations for CSR and Sustainability initiatives, have always promoted social justice. It believes that there are serious challenges in front of us, including financial crises, insecurity, poverty, exclusion and inequality within and among societies and considerable bottlenecks to further social integration and full participation in the economy. The road ahead would be to incorporate social integration activities within the social development programmes to boost equitable growth in the country.

“With exclusion and inequality on the rise, we must step up efforts to ensure that all people, without discrimination, are able to access opportunities to improve their lives and those of others.” – Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

By Manisha Bhatia

Media & Communications, Fiinovation

Fiinovation Observes – WORLD TOILET DAY

Every year, 19^th November is recognised as the “World Toilet Day” across the globe. The day is celebrated to spread awareness about the issues related to sanitation and eradicate taboos related to health and hygiene. The United Nations passed a resolution in July 2013, recognising World Toilet Day as an official International Day for drawing the world’s attention on the current sanitation crisis. On this day, several campaigns are run worldwide on educating the world about benefits of sanitation, health, and hygiene. This year the World Toilet Day is based on the theme, “Toilets and Jobs”.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that around 2.5 billion (about 1 out of 3) people lack access to improved sanitation facilities and around 1 billion of them still practice open defecation. The forced unhealthy sanitation habits lead to chronic diseases such as diarrhea, malnutrition, soil-transmitted heminthiasis and schisosomiasis. It is estimated that around 58% of the diarrhea cases are caused due to poor sanitation, poor hand-washing and lack of hygiene. In 2013 alone, around 340,000 children under 5 years of age have succumbed to death due to unhealthy sanitation habits. Not only this, open defecation is also an infringement of privacy and dignity of young girls and women bringing them embarrassment and fear exposing them to sexual assault, violence, harassment and psychological trauma. However, this menace can be put to end by providing them access to toilets and basic sanitation facilities.

In India alone, around 55% of people out of 1.2 billion people have no access to toilets mostly comprising the people living in urban slums and rural areas. The central government has taken the uphill task of creating an open defecation free country by 2^nd October 2019, the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. They have pledged to construct 12 million toilets in rural India at the cost of Rs. 1.96 lakh crore. In his speech Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Has it ever pained us that our mothers and sisters have to defecate in open? Poor womenfolk of the village wait for the night; until darkness descends, they can’t go out to defecate. What bodily torture they must be feeling, how many diseases that act might engender. Can’t we just make arrangements for toilets for the dignity of our mothers and sisters?”

Deriving inspiration from the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Mission, many states in India have done commendable work in the field of sanitation. In a press note released by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin, around 15.04 lakh toilets have been built under the MNREGA scheme across rural India. Under this mission, 446 percent increase in construction toilet work has been observed. One lakh villages have been targetted under 35 districts to declare them as open defecation free. Sikkim has been declared as the first open defacation free state followed by Himachal Pradesh and Kerala.

Even the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has been actively working towards providing people safe access to toilets and end open defecation in the world. The Government of India and World Bank has inked a $1.5 billion loan agreement for supporting the nation’s sanitation initiatives. Additionally, the World Bank will also extend technical assistance of $25 million to capacitate selected states in implementing community-led behavioral change programmes, to end the toilet related taboos and spread awareness about the regular usage of toilets by rural households.

“Sustainable development goal 6 calls on the international community to ensure access to toilets by 2030. Delivering on this basic human right — the right to water and sanitation — is good for people, business and the economy.” — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

Manisha Bhatia

Media & Communications

Fiinovation

BAN KI MOON REVIEWS INDIA’S ROLE IN GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

At this juncture when the world is mourning the victims of the Paris attack, U.N. Secretary- General’s visit to India, at the Vibrat Gujrat Conference is pivotal in determining the Geo-politics of the sub-continent.

In his exclusive interview to a few Indian Media Houses, he brought to the fore the stance of the U.N. on widespread terrorism, India-Pak relations and climate change agreement. He also extensively discussed how the Indian Law on Homosexuality is infringing into one’s personal sphere of life, and thus a matter of infringement of human rights.

Showing concerns over growing terrorism, extremism and radicalization, he asked for global solidarity on the issue and mobilization of all possible resources and strength to deter. Talking about the technological advancement that the various terrorist outfits have been able to garner to further their reach through social media, he drew an outline of the initiatives already undertaken by the council to help curb the menace. Under the United- Nations resolution on global counter-terrorism, the U.N. has established a counter-terrorism centre on training and assistance. The security council has also committed itself to address the case of ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Levent), Da’esh and Boko Haram, to ensure sustainable development or protect human rights and human dignity, he said.

Drawing remarks on UN designated global terrorist like the Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed’s public rally in Lahore last month he said,” it is very important that the Pakistan government take necessary and corrective measures in accordance with the UNSC’s designated terrorist counter-terrorism policies.” Also remembering the Mumbai attacks at this instance he advised the Indian and Pakistani authorities to discuss the matter and work in coherence to bring the perpetrators to trial. He commented that lapses in the justice system allow room for terrorists and radical groups to strengthen their foothold.

Acknowledging India’s aspiration of member status in Security Council, he clarified that the General assembly has already taken this issue up informally and he has urged to put this on a fast-track, to better equip security-council with the changing peace and security issues. He said,” The question is, the member states should be able to find the modalities to meet the aspirations of states like India.”
Taking a view of India’s integral contribution to the 44 of the 69 Peacekeeping Missions, he addressed the critical nature of Indian association, while being appreciative of more than 8,000 Indian peacekeepers and India’s strong contribution to the democracy fund.

While taking on such diverse topics he hoped India would “lead development process and climate change negotiations” process, at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris this year.

In the past few months, the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has made strong statements on the mishaps in India like the issue of violence against women, perpetual rise in Rape cases and the Law criminalizing Homosexuality. Again taking a strong view on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, criminalizing homosexuality, he demanded the Indian Government to repeal it. Since Human right is one of the fundamental principle of U.N.Charter, he called such a law to be “a matter of human rights”. He said,” In that regard, human rights and dignity should be respected for all the people, regardless of religion or ethnicity or gender or sexual orientation. It is important that the Indian government should promote the human rights of those people with different sexual orientation. The Indian penal code should decriminalize homosexuality.”

Discussing the 2015 U.N. plan focuses on sustainable development and adoption of climate change agreement, he stood appreciative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives to enhance renewable resources and 100 smart cities. He reiterated the frontline role of India in this phenomenon.

The International Yoga Day on June 21st, an Indian initiative, now approved by UNGA will also help to bring India to a larger platform in the world fora. Indian government needs to continue with its adequate stimuli to foster Indian growth and furnish the path to strengthen Indian stance at the UNGA and thus realize the long conceived aspiration of a permanent member status in the United Nations Security Council.

By – RAHUL JAIN
MANAGER- COMMUNICATION AND TRAINING

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