Social Justice in an Open World: the Role of the United Nations

This publication seeks to provide an overview and interpretation of the meetings of the International Forum for Social Development, a three-year project undertaken by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs between November 2001 and November 2004.

 “Open Societies, Open Economies: Challenges and Opportunities” represented the overall theme of the International Forum for Social development project.

The purpose of the project was to promote international cooperation for social development and to support developing countries and social groups not benefiting from the globalization process.

Two of the greatest indicators of progress during the past century are the increased equality of men and women and the growing recognition that human beings are both guests and custodians of the planet earth.

However, the popular contention that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer appears to be largely based on fact, particularly within the present global context.

The present publication seeks to provide an overview and interpretation of the discussions and debates that occurred at Forums meetings from the broad perspective of distributive justice.

 During the year this work was under preparation, the United Nations reviewed the commitments made ten years ago in Copenhagen to promote social development and in Beijing to pursue equality between men and women.

There was also a review of the United Nations Millennium Declaration and an assessment of the progress made towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The 2005 World Summit, which produced the largest gathering of world leaders in history, was held by the General Assembly in New York from 14 to 16 September and focused on development, security and human rights, as well as on United Nations reforms proposed by the Secretary-General.

It is hoped that the analyses and observations presented in this publication will contribute to the continuing debate on these important issues.

The chapters include:

1. Dimensions of International Justice and Social Justice
2. Rising Inequalities among Countries
3. Rising Inequalities among People
4. International Justice and the United Nations: from the new international economic order to the Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals
5. Social Justice and the United Nations: the divide between human rights and economic and social development
6. Are International Justice and Social Justice Politically Obsolete Concepts?

 Follow this link to the UN website to download a copy of the publication Social Justice in an Open World (opens in a new browser window) (Go to Publications)

For further information

Contact	:	United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Address	:	Division for Social Policy and Development DC2-1320, New York, NY 10017, USA

WWW

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http://www.un.org/esa/socdev