Honorable Chairman
Representatives of government institutions,
Respected human rights experts,
Representatives of international organizations,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends and participants of this conference,
It is a great honor for me to speak today, on the World Day of Social Justice, on a topic that touches the very essence of human dignity: human rights, social protection and legal responsibility towards the most vulnerable members of society, especially refugees and Iranian citizens defected from the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) Organization, who have been deprived of their fundamental rights for years.
This day is not just a symbolic date on the calendar; it is a collective reminder that societies are measured not by economic or political power, but by how they treat their most vulnerable people.
Social welfare is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right. The concept of social protection emerged from the historical need to ensure that no one is left outside the human protection system. After World War II, the international community understood that without social justice, lasting peace is not possible.
Social protection includes:
-Minimum economic security
-Access to health services
-Right to legal identity
-Protection from abuse and exploitation
-Social and legal integration
But above all, it expresses the recognition of the value of each person as a human being. Human rights are not privileges granted by governments. Human rights are born with the very existence of man. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights established the following principles:
-Every human being has the right to be free.
-Every human being has the right to think and choose.
-No one should be subjected to inhuman treatment.
-No one should be separated from family or community.
When these principles are violated, it is not just a legal problem; it is a moral crisis. Refugees are among the most vulnerable groups. International law requires states not to return people to countries where they are in danger, to guarantee legal identity, to provide access to justice, and to protect their physical and mental health.
The Geneva Conventions set a clear standard: protecting the human person is above any political interest.
But the real problem is not the absence of law; it is its implementation. The situation that many Iranian citizens who have separated from the MEK have experienced in this organization includes social isolation, restrictions on personal freedom, prohibitions on contact with family, psychological pressure, loss of personal identity.
After the separation, many were left without legal documents, economic support, full access to the legal system, or a public voice. This situation requires concrete legal solutions, not just human sympathy. The law is there to protect the individual from the abuse of power, whether it be state or organizational.
When an organization restricts individual freedoms, these legal questions arise:
– Has individual autonomy been respected?
– Has psychological coercion been used?
– Have family rights been violated?
– Has freedom of choice been restricted?
If the answer is yes, we are facing a serious violation of international human rights standards.
Leaving the closed structure is not the end of the problems. People who leave face:
-Psychological trauma
-Social distrust
-Economic problems
-Cultural isolation
Social support should include:
-Psychological rehabilitation
-Legal assistance
-Education and skills training
-Social support
Society should not only save people from injustice; it should also help them rebuild their lives.
The mission of Nejat Society Albania is not political; it is humanitarian.
Its objectives:
-Defense of fundamental rights of individuals
-Legal aid
-Reestablishment of family ties
-Social and professional integration
In practice, it means giving back to the most important thing to man: his voice.
The global challenges that stand in the way of this path are: mass migration, ideological conflicts, psychological control and disinformation. The law must evolve to protect the individual not only from physical violence, but also from psychological and social control. And the main tasks of governments are:
-Preventing violations of rights
-Protecting victims
-Reintegrating individuals into society
Without these three pillars, social protection is just a theory. Silence in the face of injustice is not neutrality; it is complicity with it.
Conclusion:
Every era is judged by how it treats the powerless. If we want a just society, we must protect the most voiceless. Social protection is not politics; it is humanity in action.
Thank you.
