Social Justice Flashcards
What is Social Justice?
The concepts of social justice is predicated on two words:
* Rights - The idea that humans are entitled to some basic amenities of life.
* Natural Rights - God-given, basic (life,liberty)
* Civil and Political Rights - participation in the affairs of ones country (voting)
* Economic and Social Rights - equal access that allows persons to lvie with dignity (education, employment)
* Responsibilites - The diea that in order to access these rights there is some onus that is placed on individuals within a society.
* Fairness - Treatment for all groups in all facets of society should be equal. The justice system for example should ensure that the poor who may need legal aid should be considered in the same way as someone who is able to afford to pay for his own lawyer.
* Welfare - Special programmes established to ensure that vulnerable groupings in society are catered to. For example, relief programmes may be needed to help the poor.
Historical Underpinnings of Social Justice
The Caribbean region has a History of social injustice: conquest, enslavement, colonailism, plantation system, resistance.
Case in Point; Morvant Bay Rebellion (1865)
* We have struggled to make a concept a reality because of the legacy of these experiences and it is bourne out in
* Demonstrations (Blocking roads)
* Political Rivaliary and Divisions
* Level of Crime
* Level of Poverty
Social Justice in the Context of Caribbean Development
Ensuring citizens have continued accessed to freedom is important for development: these freedoms include: personal security, rule of alw, freedom of expression, political participation and equal opportunity. Therefore to ensure development the four [illars of HDI/HDP must be achieved.
Human Development Paradigm
- Equity
- Productivity
- Empowerment
- Sustainabilty
Development Indicator: Equity
Gini coefficient
This measures the levels of inequality on a scale of 1-100
0 - perfect equality
100 - perfect inequality
How many persons within a particular society are able to access and afford the resources to live a comfortable life.
Breaches of Social Justice
Creedism
Ageism
Gender Inequalty - Patriarchy, Genedered Workplace, Sexual Harrassment, Domestic Violence
Sexism
Extra-Judicial Killing/Police Brutatilty
Classism
Domestic Violence
Violence against Women
Discrimation on the basis of Sexual Orientation
Police Brutality
Inner city communities are usually at the brunt of this
Jamaica is infamous for its statistics on police killings: May 2010 Tivoli Incursion
