Peace and Social Justice: A Social Work Commitment for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Peace and social justice are a pre-requisite for development to ensue, and continue. Development is not only an economic phenomenon but entails a multi-dimensional process that involves reorganisation of economic and social systems. Conditions that allow it to happen and sustain are provided by a peaceful and just social and political order. Contemporary political conflicts may be spawned by different reasons but the experience of living in such situations, the pain and agony, is something that connects the victims of different conflicts to one another. Conflicts cause death and devastation, a situation of chaos and confusion, and hopelessness. Violence becomes a routine and negatively impacts the social, economic and cultural ties of people. Violence affected societies become susceptible to further brutalities as the social linkages and relationships are broken down. The affected communities tend to resist the unnatural changes and refuse to give in to anxiety and strain by adopting different survival strategies. This paper argues that a strong social work commitment is required in politically and socially conflict ridden societies. Developing and re-developing the fractured civil societies, networking between voluntary organizations and government agencies and building civilian platforms for peace negotiations and pursuit of just solutions are some of the initiatives that can help and support the resilience that the civilian population displays in the wake of mayhem. It is pertinent to support their efforts to help achieve a sustainable development in conflict ridden societies. The current discourse rests on a rights based approach that deems social justice, freedoms and peace a necessity for social and sustainable development.

Keywords: Conflict, Peace, Social Justice, Social Work, Resilience

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