Ebaõiglus

Ebaõiglus is Estonian for injustice and denotes the absence or denial of fairness, equity, or due regard for rights. The word is formed from eba- 'not' and õiglus 'justice' and is used in ethical, legal, and political discussions to describe unfair treatment or outcomes.

The concept covers several dimensions: distributive justice (allocation of goods and burdens), procedural justice (fairness of processes and decision-making), and social justice (patterns of inequalities across society). Ebaõiglus can arise from discrimination, bias, corruption, or unequal enforcement of laws and policies.

Common manifestations include unequal access to education, health care, or employment; biased administrative decisions; and policies that disadvantage particular groups. Estonian and other societies address ebaõiglus through laws, social programs, and governance practices aimed at fairness.

Philosophical and legal approaches study remedies to ebaõiglus, ranging from egalitarian and prioritarian theories to rule-of-law and anti-discrimination measures. Mechanisms such as transparency, accountability, equal opportunity policies, and inclusive participation are promoted to reduce unfair outcomes.

The term is widely used in human rights discourse and constitutional debates, and is central to discussions on equality-of-opportunity, civil rights, and social cohesion.