Social justice requires that the same freedoms and rights apply to all.

 Thirty years ago, delegates from 186 countries – at the time, the largest gathering of world leaders ever assembled – convened in Copenhagen for the United Nations World Summit for Social Development. The 1995 summit recognized the centrality of full and productive employment for social development, noting how it was interrelated with poverty eradication and social inclusion. It aimed to establish a people-centred framework for social development in a world where basic needs were still not being met, poverty persisted, and unemployment and social exclusion were rising. In 2025, as the world reflects on the progress made since then, the ILO has embarked on its first ever attempt to assess the state of social justice in the world. This report identifies numerous indicators useful in measuring progress towards social justice – based on the common principles described here. By assessing the state of social justice in the world, the ILO aims to elevate social justice as a global policy imperative requiring greater multilateral cooperation and partnerships between a range of actors who support human dignity and peace. The Global Coalition for Social Justice serves as a catalyst and conduit for initiating and accelerating action in this endeavour. By recommitting to strengthening the fabric of social justice – through whichever of its threads we can most contribute – each of us can contribute to a world of greater prosperity, inclusion and freedom.