site.btaWithout Justice, Society Is Doomed to Collapse, Says Labour Minister at Second World Summit for Social Development

Social justice is not a privilege, it is a universal right, a foundation for lasting peace, inclusive development, and meaningful progress, said Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov in his address at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, quoted by his Ministry on Wednesday. The high-level forum is organized by the United Nations.

"Justice is the foundation of every society. Without it, society is doomed to collapse. Equal opportunities for development and access to healthcare and education are key to living in a truly just society," the Minister stressed. He added that social exclusion breeds not only poverty but also crime, and therefore insecurity, both for its victims and for society as a whole. "Children born into persistent poverty and social exclusion are at risk of repeating this pattern. We have no right to raise doomed generations," he said.

Citing UN statistics, Minister Gutsanov noted that one in every ten people worldwide lives in extreme poverty. He outlined Bulgaria’s measures to reduce poverty, emphasizing active labour market policies that prioritize the inclusion of disadvantaged groups. "We are using national and European funding to expand access to education, upskilling, and reskilling. Over the past five years, we have invested more than half a billion euro in lifelong learning initiatives," he said.