World Day of Social Justice

Written on: February 20, 2021

Question: What organization is devoted to pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace?

If you answered the International Labor Organization, you’re right! However, if you answered the Church you’d also be right.

Another question: Did you know that February 20 is World Day of Social Justice?  I must admit that I didn’t, not until someone told me just last week!

This day was first observed in 2009 after the ILO unanimously adopted their Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization and the UN General Assembly declared that February 20 will be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice. However, the original impetus came from the Constitution of International Labor Organization’s Conference of 1919!

What do I take away from what may be consider a few trivial facts?

It’s gratitude and respect and a huge dose of joy knowing that this civil organization’s mission is ultimately the same as ours. Perhaps we will remember what Pope Paul VI said in 1972, “If you want peace, work for justice.”

How important it is to have partners in mission!

Submitted by: Sister Diane Bardol, GNSH

This entry was posted in From our Sisters and tagged: Church, Fair Globalization, International Labor Organization, Justice, mission, partners, peace, Pope Paul VI, social justice, UN General Assembly