Social justice at heart of Agenda 2030

Inter-Parliamentary Union President Saber Chowdhury MP yesterday said social justice is at the heart of UN Agenda 2030 and is an essential precondition for peaceful, inclusive societies and prosperous coexistence within and amongst nations, says a press release.

"We advance social justice when we identify and remove impediments people face due to culture, religion, race and gender and we uphold the principles of social justice when we protect and promote rights of the youth, the marginalised and the disadvantaged," he said at the Inaugural Session of the Parliamentary Social Justice Forum, convened by the Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco to mark World Day of Social Justice 2016.

Identifying income inequality as a key universal challenge, Saber said, "In developed and developing countries, poorest half of the population owns less than 10 percent of its wealth. Inequality of opportunity undermines sustainability of economic growth, weakens social cohesion and undermines our democracies."

Presided over by Speaker Abdelhakim Benchamach, the inaugural session, held in Moroccan parliament, was also addressed by former prime minister of Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.