This week we celebrated the World Day of Social Justice which if anything serves to remind us of our responsibility to contribute towards an inclusive society promoting social justice, equality and access to opportunity in and among countries around the globe.
The United Nations and the World Day for Social Justice
Since 2009, the United Nations has observed 20th February as the day to actively promote concepts such as the eradication of poverty, full employment, decent work, gender equality and access to social well-being which in themselves call for the removal of barriers based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture and disability. A concept of social justice is basically the respect for human dignity and human fundamental rights.
Suffering around the world and complacency
Around the world, millions of people live on one dollar a day and even less, which in itself is a robust enough case, without the need for further explanations to understand the conditions of these people's material existence and, consequently, for solidarity beyond occasional charitable acts. News reaching us from the most turbulent areas of the globe continuously reminds us of the added physical suffering, restraint on liberty and lack of respect for basic human rights endured by millions of others. How can we remain complacent in the face of such situations?
In Malta, absolute poverty is fortunately not prevalent, but relative poverty exists. Since Independence we have climbed up the ladder, building a strong welfare state based on both the principle of solidarity and a sound and prosperous liberal economy. Of course, the tension between human equality and the economic liberty necessary for wealth creation provides us with the continuous challenge of finding and maintaining a healthy equilibrium.
Poverty in Malta
During the last year, those in poverty or at risk of poverty reached the 99,000 figure, which is a quarter of the population. The 'severely materially deprived', that is, those lacking basic needs, have increased by 2,000. Over 8,000 people cannot afford a good meal with either meat, fish or chicken at least every other day, and 6,283 more are finding they cannot keep afford to keep their house warm.
The government-induced costs in social housing rent and fuel definitely did not help to alleviate any of these people's problems. The government's reluctance to address the adequacy and sustainability of retirement pensions will only increase poverty rates among the elderly who today are already finding it difficult to make ends meet on their present income.