Parties Need To Deliver For Citizens – Alliance

Alliance Communities spokesperson, Kellie Armstrong, has reiterated the need for political parties to start delivering for citizens on World Social Justice Day, 20 February, rather than putting party first.

Kellie Armstrong said: "Social Justice promotes the importance of fair and just relations between the individual and society. Social Justice tackles issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender equality, human rights, and social protections.

"In today's economic climate we need to reduce the stark differences between the rich and the poor. World Social Justice Day 2023 is the time to make a start."

The five key principals of social justice are:

• Dignity of the human being – ensuring all humans have basic necessities and rights.

• Primacy of the common good – making choices that benefit everyone.

• Reciprocal rights and responsibilities – the right to have a conscience and the responsibility to be kind to others.

• Dignity of work and rights for workers – all people have the right to work safely.

• Fundamental option for the poor and the vulnerable – ensuring that the marginalized in society are looked after.

The Strangford MLA continued: "A key aim of social justice is to reduce poverty and inequalities, and in recent weeks, my colleagues and I met with the Independent Panel to discuss their Review of Welfare Mitigations. Alliance has welcomed their recommendations for a Carers payment, support for families, especially during cold weather and financial help at key points in a child's life. If we are to raise people out of poverty, then we must work together, within an Executive and Assembly, with a focus on anti-poverty and inclusion.

"Alliance aims to prioritise fairness for all through the publication of a Programme for Government that upholds social inclusion strategies aimed at making Northern Ireland more equitable. By reframing how Section 75 is used, to record how policies and programmes proactively include people of different ages, religion, genders, race etc, we can move Northern Ireland to a place that includes everyone, instead of being a place that enables division."