Deeply rooted in Jesuit teachings, social justice, demands the defence of human dignity, solidarity with the marginalised, and the transformation of unjust structures to uphold the common good. JRS carries out this mission of change through reconciliation processes aimed at healing, rebuilding, and restoring broken bonds within communities fractured by instability, violence, and inequality.

We asked our teams to share their reflections on social justice and how it connects to their reconciliation efforts in the countries where they work.

Social justice as equity and access to resources

For Kawawa Rashidi, JRS Gender and Peace Building Officer in Adjumani, Uganda, social justice means ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources for all individuals, regardless of their background. “We intervene by building local capacity for advocacy and integrating efforts across education, mental health, pastoral work and livelihoods to foster economic stability, and self-reliance.”

Maria Elena Hernandez, Reconciliation coordinator for JRS Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) also addresses the need to reduce inequalities. “We need to create public policies that ensure all individuals—regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, social class, religion, migration status, or educational level—have access to their human rights. Latin America is the most unequal region in the world, where a significant portion of the population struggles to afford basic necessities, and more than 50% lack guaranteed rights such as education, healthcare, or housing. This structural violence consequently translates into direct violence.”

Social justice as community building

“For me, it is important to have a community where everyone feels they belong. Social justice, therefore, means valuing everyone’s dignity, listening to people’s stories, and seeing everyone first and foremost as human beings—not defined by their struggles or differences. It’s about addressing unjust systems and narratives both on a higher level but also on a grassroot level, by building relationships rooted in respect and trust,” says Mariosa Caruana, Reconciliation Coordinator for JRS Malta.

In Malta, JRS seeks to bridge the gaps between migrants and local communities, as well as among different migrant communities, creating spaces of welcome, dialogue, and encounter. “It is about giving people the chance to feel seen, valued, and connected – especially standing with those who feel forgotten or marginalised,” she explains.

On the Thailand-Myanmar border, social justice also means being there and accompanying “Life” where it is most threatened, affirms Sr Maria Pilar Brufal Jaen, JRS Pastoral and Accompaniment Assistant in Mae Hong Son, Thailand. She continues, “We generate opportunities for personal development and growth, family responsibility, and a sense of community. Together with them, we proclaim the possibility of a more human and fraternal world, denouncing the causes that threaten our humanity. Refugees themselves become agents of change, fostering solidarity and fraternal communities that ensure care and protection of the rights of their members.”

Social Justice as promotion and respect for human rights

It is essential to create spaces for discussions on social issues such as inequality, injustice, inequity, and violence. Niangneih Kim, Reconciliation Coordinator for JRS Northeast India reflects on this, saying, “these discussions lay the foundation for building a just and equitable community, where each individual’s worth is based on their humanity; first and foremost, we are all human beings. In this way, the seed of equality is planted, paving the way for the empowerment and emancipation of the marginalised.”

Speaking from Mexico, Daniel Restrepo, Reconciliation Coordinator for JRS Mexico adds, “Social justice here is linked to the full enjoyment of rights for those who migrate and travel through this country.”

In this context, reconciliation promotes social justice by creating spaces of truth and recognition of the realities faced by migrants. It offers them the opportunity to heal, rebuild their lives, and reconnect with their families, friends, and the broader migrant community.