Social justice progress stalls, in threat to democracy: UN

GENEVA: Despite major gains in education and reducing poverty in recent decades, entrenched inequalities are eroding trust in institutions and democratic systems around the world, the UN warned on Tuesday.

Thirty years ago, world leaders gathered in Copenhagen for the first World Summit for Social Development, vowing to end poverty, create jobs and promote social integration.

In a fresh report, the UN´s International Labour Organisation hailed the “wealthier, healthier and better educated” world created since that summit -- at the time the largest-ever gathering of world leaders.

But, it cautioned, “the benefits have not been evenly shared and progress in reducing inequality has stalled”.

“Stark global inequalities endure,” it said in a report issued ahead of the follow-up summit, set to take place in Qatar in November.

“The world has made undeniable progress, but we cannot ignore that millions remain excluded from opportunity and dignity at work,” ILO chief Gilbert Houngbo said in a statement.

“Social justice is not only a moral imperative - it is essential for economic security, social cohesion and peace.”

The report listed significant achievements over the past three decades, including the halving of the rate of child labour among five-to 14-year-olds, from 20 to 10 per cent.

The world had reduced the share of the global population impacted by extreme poverty, from 39 to 10 per cent, and raised primary school completion rates by 17 percentage points, it said. But the ILO also warned of “stark and persistent” problems.