Social Justice

The concept of social injustice refers to the situation when equals are treated unequally and unequals are treated equally by the system. Social justice is based on the principles of human rights, equity, participation, and accessibility. The process of achieving social justice is not easy since there are a number of issues that need to be addressed.

An individual who is a member of a nation is entitled to certain basic and equal rights. In our nation, we are unfortunate that our fundamental rights are not recognized as equal for everyone. A person's rights are determined by his or her power, self-esteem, and status, and many people do not know how to go about obtaining them. Pakistan has numerous social injustice issues, including gender inequality socioeconomic disparities, religious discrimination, and lack of access to education and healthcare. Governments, civil society organizations, and individuals must collaborate to address social injustice.

Pakistan has numerous Social Injustice issues like :

Gender Inequality:

Pakistan faces significant gender disparities, with women and girls often experiencing discrimination and violence. They have limited access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and political participation. Harmful practices such as child marriage, honor killings, and domestic violence are prevalent.

Religious discrimination:

Pakistan is an Islamic Republic, and religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Ahmadis, face discrimination and persecution. They often experience restrictions on religious freedom, targeted violence, and blasphemy laws that can oppress minority communities.

Socioeconomic Disparities:

Pakistan has a large wealth gap, with a significant portion of the population living in poverty. Rural areas, particularly in provinces like Balochistan and Sindh, face higher levels of poverty and lack basic amenities such as clean water, sanitation, and healthcare facilities. Urban-rural divide exacerbates social injustice, as urban areas enjoy better infrastructure and resources.

Quality Education:

Although Pakistan has made significant efforts to improve education, quality education remains a challenge for its citizens. Due to poverty, cultural norms, and inadequate infrastructure, many children, particularly girls and those from marginalized communities, cannot attend school. A lack of access to education and illiteracy perpetuate social inequalities.

Human Rights:

A number of human rights violations persist in Pakistan, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, torture, and restrictions on freedom of expression. Dissenting voices, journalists, and activists often face threats, harassment, and intimidation.

Injustice based on caste:

Caste discrimination is prevalent in Pakistan, although not as prevalent as in some other South Asian countries. A great deal of marginalization and social mobility restrictions are experienced by people of lower castes and their access to resources is limited.

The objective of US SHAPE is to promote equal rights, improving access to educational and healthcare opportunities, empowering women, protecting religious minorities and creating a democratic society where all citizens can participate in and benefit from their rights. Our society and state should maintain vigilance when administering justice. Governments, civil society organizations, and individuals must collaborate to address social injustice.