On November 26, 2007, the United Nation’s General Assembly declared that February 20 would annually be celebrated as the World Day of Social Justice starting in 2009.
They stated that the goal of World Day of Social Justice is to bring to light and confront issues such as poverty, gender inequality, unemployment, social protections, and human rights: “The General Assembly recognizes that social development and social justice are indispensable for the achievement and maintenance of peace and security within and among nations.”
At Awe, World Social Justice Day is something we celebrate every day. Twenty percent of the proceeds from all of our sales go towards women in need and organizations making a positive difference. Organizations like the NAACP, NAMI, RAINN, and CancerCare (and many others!) all receive our support regularly when you purchase one or more of our beautiful, meaningful pieces. YOU are supporting them too and we hope you are proud to be aligned with a company like Awe Inspired, where we all work together to enact positive and significant change.
Today, we are also launching our newest piece, the Raised Fist amulet. This powerful piece is a universally-known symbol of protest, equality, and justice for all. It is a message of solidarity and support that has existed since Ancient Greek civilizations. The wrist also holds a diamond cuff as a further message of solidarity. It’s only fit to launch this vital symbol and must-have piece on such a significant day. Add it to your collection to continue the fight against oppression.
“Social justice” can be a controversial phrase, as odd as that seems. In recent years, the term “social justice warrior” has been used as almost a slur against certain people, essentially making fun of anybody dedicated to typically liberal causes like feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and civil rights.
Although there will always be some backlash to whatever progress is made, we must all soldier on because there is important work to be done. We are nowhere near where we should be in terms of social justice. This is why World Day of Social Justice is so important, and why the UN saw fit to declare February 20 a day of observance.
However, we’d like to encourage you to think of social justice and ways to promote it not only on February 20 but as often as possible. We all have our own lives and personal hardships, but fighting for the greater good is in everyone’s best interest.