PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE

In thinking about gender and family justice, IFL therapists have been stimulated by the following “Guidelines”created by Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) at www.web.net/~cpj

1. Human Dignity: the right of all persons and their communities to be treated with justice, love, compassion, and respect, and their responsibility to treat others likewise.

2. Mutual Responsibility: the duty of all persons to contribute to the well-being of the community as they are able, and the duty of each community to contribute to the well-being both of all its members, regardless of their ability, and of those in the larger society.

3. Economic Equity: the right of all persons and communities to adequate access to the resources necessary for a full life, including access to worthwhile work, fair employment conditions, and income-security provisions, and our communal responsibility to use such resources responsibly.

4. Social Justice: the right of all persons and communities to full participation in the life and decision-making of Canada, and to adequate access to the resources necessary for a full life, including access to adequate education, health care, housing, and child care, and our communal responsibility to use such resources responsibly.

 5. Environmental Integrity: the duty of all persons, communities, and institutions to fair fiscal treatment, and the responsibility of all to contribute fairly for the well-being of all.

6. Fiscal Fairness: the right of all persons, communities, and institutions to fair fiscal treatment, and the responsibility of all to contribute fairly for the well-being of all.

We agree with CPJ’s assertion that mutual respect is a way to justice, linking people and communities through bonds of equity and fairness. Likewise, we agree that mutual responsibility is a tie that binds, linking people and communities through deeds of compassion and solidarity.