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Social Justice is Vital in Relationship to Social Policy

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Social justice is extremely important particularly in relation to social policy, social work practice and community development as it seeks to alleviate oppression and relates to the suitable distribution of resources and services (Cheyne, O'Brien, & Belgrave, 2008). This form of justice is recognized as distributive justice as it is concerned with the fair distribution of all resources that are required for well-being and it seeks to ensure all people have equal opportunity and enjoyment of all of these resources (Cheyne, O'Brien, & Belgrave, 2008). Whereas, retributive justice, is associated with recompense and retaliation, and is constructed on rectification when laws are broken or when harm occurs (Cheyne, O'Brien, & Belgrave, 2008). Furthermore, it encompasses the ideologies of equality, citizenship, assuring freedom, meeting essential needs, risk and rights for all groups and individuals (O'Brien, 2009).
Human rights is another associated relationship between social work practice and community development. Issues of human rights arise when human well-being is threatened in some form (Connolly, 2009). According to Amnesty International (2013):
Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, language, or other status. Human rights include civil and political rights, such as the right to life, liberty and freedom of expression; and social, cultural and economic

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