For Ten Thousand Rupiah: Where Is Our Social Justice?
By: Ali Aminulloh
February 20th is once again commemorated as World Day of Social Justice. Banners are displayed, seminars are held, and speeches are delivered. The global theme for 2026 is: “Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice.” A noble-sounding phrase.
But in a corner of the country, a child in East Nusa Tenggara ended his life because he couldn’t afford to buy stationery worth 10,000 Rupiah. Ten thousand Rupiah.
A value that, to some, might be nothing more than the price of parking or an afternoon coffee. But for that child, it was the line between hope and despair.
Ironically, when the Head of the UGM Student Executive Board (BEM) spoke out against inequality and public policy, he was persecuted. In a country that claims to be democratic, critical voices are sometimes silenced more quickly than poverty is eradicated.
The question is simple: are we truly celebrating social justice, or simply commemorating the date?
Social Justice: A Constitutional Mandate, Not Just an Annual Theme
The World Day of Social Justice was established by the UN General Assembly on November 26, 2007, with roots in the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen. The Copenhagen Declaration affirmed that poverty, unemployment, and discrimination are the primary enemies of humanity.
In Indonesia, social justice is not merely a global discourse. It is the fifth principle of Pancasila. It is clearly stated in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution.
However, social facts reveal a gap that has not yet been closed.
Data on Indonesia’s economic inequality has continued to show a Gini coefficient ranging from 0.38 to 0.40 in recent years. This means that wealth distribution is unequal. Reports from international organizations often indicate that the majority of national assets are controlled by a small economic elite.
Wealth circulates within a narrow circle. Meanwhile, in the outer circle, there are still children who cannot afford books and pencils.
Ten Thousand Rupiah and the Price of Dignity
The story of the NTT child is not merely an individual tragedy. It reflects a systemic reality.
When access to education is unequal, when social assistance is not always well-targeted, when schooling remains a financial burden for poor families, that is where social justice fails to work.
Social justice is not just about economic growth figures. Nor is it merely statistics on poverty reduction. It is about human dignity. It is about ensuring that no Indonesian child feels their life is worthless simply because they cannot afford stationery.
And when students speak out about this inequality and are then intimidated, the question becomes deeper: are we building a space for dialogue or a space of fear?
Trilogy of Awareness: Reading Inequality with the Inner Eye and Common Sense
Shaykh Al Zaytun initiated the concept of the Trilogy of Awareness: philosophical, ecological, and social awareness. If we use these three lenses to read the reality of Social Justice Day, perhaps we will discover something more fundamental.
1. Philosophical Awareness
This awareness invites us to ask: what is the essence of development? Is it simply the accumulation of numbers, or is it the improvement of human quality?
If a child loses his life over 10,000 Rupiah, then there is something wrong with how we define progress.
2. Ecological Awareness
Inequality is often related to the unfair exploitation of resources. A region rich in minerals does not necessarily mean its people are prosperous. Abundant natural resources do not automatically bring about a distribution of prosperity.
Ecology is not only about the environment, but also about the balanced distribution of benefits.
3. Social Awareness
This is the essence of Social Justice Day: the awareness that we live in a web of humanity. When one child fails to access education, it is not just the family’s problem. It is a collective failure.
This trilogy reminds us: social justice is not merely a government project, but a civilizational project.
Democracy and Space for Criticism
This year’s global theme emphasizes “renewal of commitment.” However, commitment does not arise from ceremony. It arises from the courage to acknowledge shortcomings and open up space for criticism.
When students protest, it is part of an intellectual tradition. If the response is persecution, then what is threatened is not just the individual, but the democratic ecosystem itself.
Social justice cannot grow in a climate that is resistant to criticism.
Bridging the Gap or Normalizing It?
The previous theme, “Bridging the Gap, Building Alliances,” sounded progressive. But bridging the gap requires taking sides.
A living wage, protection for informal workers, access to technology, protection from the impacts of climate change. These are not merely technical policies. They concern the moral direction of the nation.
If policies favor capital owners over the common people, then the gap is not bridged, but normalized.
Reflection on February 20th
Social Justice Day should be a day national reflection.
It’s not just about how many seminars are held.
It’s not just about how many hashtags are popularized.
But about the fundamental question:
Do we care enough for the most vulnerable?
A child in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has paid a high price to remind us.
Ten thousand rupiah is a small amount in a state budget worth trillions. But it symbolizes the fragility of our social safety net.
Social justice is not a utopian dream. It is a constitutional mandate. It is a historical mandate. It is a promise of independence.
And as long as there are children who feel worthless because of poverty, as long as their voices of criticism are met with intimidation, then February 20th is not a day of celebration, but a day to remind us that our work is not yet done.
Perhaps what needs to be renewed is not only global commitment, but our collective conscience as a nation.**
Indonesia, February 20, 2026
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