What is justice?

Is the definition of justice really that subjective?

It seems like an obvious question but it if you think about it, justice, what it means, and to who is one of the most divisive topics of our time. The definition of justice and its many interpretations around the world makes us face the very contradictions in our society and in our law systems.

Under international law and also our 'universal' human compass, there are some very basic understandings of what justice means and how to operate under a system of justice. And yet, everywhere around us, justice seems to be utterly up for personal, subjective and often times removed interpretation at best, and action at the very worst.

At FairPlanet we believe that justice should not be up for interpretation on the human rights level. Would you agree?

Welcome back to our weekly roundup. This time we're taking a deep dive into the state of global justice. Read. Debate: Engage.

Global-Justice-US-March

The good

Pinpointing where 'justice' exists is not unilateral, but regard to human rights is a good start

According to Our World in Data, "Human rights encompass a wide variety of rights, including but not limited to the right to a fair trial, protection of physical integrity, protection against enslavement, the right to free speech, and the right to education." Within that lays the realm of justice of individuals to access these in a fair and equal way.

Despite the gross injustices around the world that are ingrained into our histories, regard for human rights is on the rise across many countries. Of course some countries' score has not progressed much over the past few decades, while others' are in decline, such as North Korea, Afghanistan and even the United States of America under the current administration.

The chart below is an overview of tracking human rights abuses over time.

human-rights-scores

The bad

Injustice is still rife in the global fashion industry

Justice is interlinked to numerous aspects of the global fashion industry. From workers conditions, climate justice in the ways in which factories are processing the materials, assembling the clothes and shipping, to the supply chain equality – making sure everyone is getting paid their fair share of the world load.

However the trillion dollar a year industry is far from being just – it has been linked to countless accounts of violations of human rights and environmental abuses.

Transparentem is a US-based non-profit organisation working to expose the reality behind the conduct of mass industries, including the fashion sector, in an effort to eradicate environmental and human rights abuses committed in the supply chains.

Find out more about the organisation and support its causes.

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Transparentem expose environmental and human rights abuses of fashion industry

by Yair Oded

Transparentem expose the truth behind the fashion industry's violation of human rights and environmental degradation. Learn more on their website.

On justice around the world

	Tanzania bars citizens from seeking justice at the African Court by Cyril Zenda The Government of Tanzania in early December withdrew the right of individual citizens and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to directly approach the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, a continental court based in the east African country’s city of Arusha, in pursuit of justice. Read

	Former female inmate’s call for Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act by Yair Oded Women are the fastest growing prison population in the United States. Other than constituting yet another indication of how deeply flawed the American criminal justice system is, this fact has brought to light the incompetence of federal and private prisons in providing female inmates (particularly pregnant ones) proper medical care and protection from the rampant physical and sexual abuse they are subject to in detention. Read

	India's “murder of gender justice” by Shuriah Niazi Transgender activists in India argue 26 November is the Gender Justice Murder Day because on this day in 2019, the Indian Parliament passed a very regressive bill that violates the rights and the dignity of the transgender people. Read

Country focus

Tanzania

Tanzania, or the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa, sharing its border with 7 other nations.

With a population of 55 million, Tanzania has not experienced the same domestic and neighbouring turmoil through war as many of its neighbouring countries. Yet even so, a large number of its citizens live under the World Poverty Line.

Tanzania attracts tourism to the Kilomanjara mountains – Africa's highest mountains. As well as to its rife wildlife and national parks.

Little known is the historical fact that at the beginning of the 20th century German and British colonizers extracted 230 tons of dinosaur bones from the site of Tendaguru in southern Tanzania and brought them to European museums.

This very area inhabited by the Tendaguru community is still a disputed territory, where, in colonial continuity, land grabbing by multinationals and severe displacement of the population started taking place only recently. Although, the site and the dinosaur bones are regarded as sacred heritage by its community.

President John Magufuli was elected in 2015 and has pledged to fight corruption and boost the economy by tackling youth unemployment. However, despite his enthusiasm and hence nickname "The Bulldozer", Magufuli was reported by the BBC to have "caused international concern over his campaign against the independent media and gay rights".

All stories about Tanzania

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