A thematic exhibition 21st Century Values and Priorities: Social Justice, dedicated to the World Day of Social Justice, opens in the Documents of International Organizations Reading Room (room 207g) from February 19 to March 17.

This Day was proclaimed at the 62nd session by the UN General Assembly on November 26, 2007 (Resolution A/RES/62/10), and is celebrated annually on February 20, starting in 2009.

Kyrgyzstan came forward with the initiative to proclaim the World Social Justice Day. The draft resolution submitted by the Kyrgyz delegation and coauthored with about 80 states was unanimously adopted.

In proclaiming this Day, the UN General Assembly emphasized that social justice is a fundamental principle of peaceful and prosperous coexistence both within each individual country and in the relations between different countries. The resolution states that important conditions for ensuring social development and social justice are economic growth, peace, and security, as well as respect for human rights. The Assembly pointed out the need to consolidate further efforts of the international community in the field of poverty eradication and in promoting full employment and decent work, gender equality and access to social welfare and justice for all.

The UN considers the pursuit of social justice one of its main missions and makes great efforts to address social development issues.

The World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen in March 1995, where the tasks of the social development of modern society were proclaimed. Heads of 117 states and governments adopted the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Program of Action, which entrenched specific commitments to improve the living conditions of people.

Five years later, in June 2000, the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly for Social Development was held in Geneva. The results of the implementation of the Copenhagen decisions were reviewed and the main obstacles and ways to eliminate them were defined. The main conclusion of the meeting was that the economic growth of states should go hand in hand with the improvement of the quality of life.

The International Labour Organization unanimously adopted the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization on 10 June 2008. It addressed the guarantee to achieve a fair outcome for all by ensuring employment, social protection, social dialogue and fundamental principles and rights in the workplace.

Like many other dates established by the UN, the World Social Justice Day has a new theme that allows you to focus on one or another aspect of the problem each year. The theme for 2020 is Closing the Inequalities Gap to Achieve Social Justice.

About 90 documents are offered to readers at the exhibition. Most of the exposition comprises of the documents of international organizations (UN, UNESCO, European Union, Council of Europe, etc.) in Russian and English. These are books, periodicals, UN mimeographed documents, brochures, booklets.

The exposition includes the following thematic sections:

Social Justice: History, Theory, Ideas, and Principles;
International Cooperation for Social Development and Justice;
Poverty Eradication;
Full Employment and Decent Work;
Human Rights Protection and Promotion; Social Inequality and Social Policy in the Modern World;
Universal Access to Education and Quality Health Services;
Economic, Social and Cultural Development Assistance to the Least Developed Countries and Countries with Transition Economies.

The exhibition will appeal to students, undergraduates, social and economic disciplines teachers, political and public figures, specialists majoring in international law, politics, and relations, human rights professionals, and social workers.

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