2014 World Social Work Day will be formally celebrated on March 18^th, by all of the 116 IFSW country members.

IFSW President Dr Gary Bailey and other Executive Members have marked the occasion with written and video messages. These can be accessed here. Also see the IFSW Secretary-General, Dr Rory Truell’s World Social Work Day message, and follow his Social Work Day activities on his Facebook blog.

World Social Work Day: taking action against inequality

Social workers want governments with heart and politicians who take the trouble to understand the real human experience Truell, R. (2014). Guardian UK.

Each year World Social Work Day takes on new energy and significance. All of the International Federation of Social Workers' (IFSW) 116 member countries are celebrating social workers' contribution to society, and using the opportunity to advocate common messages to their governments.

The theme for 2014 is Social and Economic Crisis – Social Work Solutions. This relates to the first of four themes in the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development - a bottom-up movement that has been developed by social workers globally. The aim is to step up and take action against growing inequalities and the worldwide dynamics that perpetuate poverty and oppression.

As social workers we are at the forefront of social consequences and social realities. Every day we experience policies which unlock human potential and social sustainability, and those which fail people and strip them of their confidence and futures.

Our experience is that the vast majority of people in difficult circumstances want the best for themselves and their families, and want to take responsible decisions to make that possible. The problem is that a mixture of social, personal and economic circumstances entrap them in a spiral of problems, from which it can be difficult to escape without the support of strong family, community or other networks.

We often see how, despite people's best efforts, small external events such as illness, an unexpected repair bill, or a natural disaster knock people back. This simple and common sense message is at the heart of social work but is often ignored by government policy.

As well as facilitating support of people on the ground, social work also delivers key messages to governments and international policy organisations, based on our practical experience. They are:

• People cannot be developed by others. Our frontline experience has taught us that, to escape from poverty and oppressive situations, people need to be actively involved in their own futures.

• The cornerstone of a thriving economy is a stable, resourced and educated community. All too often governments argue that they cannot afford to invest in the community, whereas our experience informs us that community investment attracts results in entrepreneurship, skills development and economic growth.

•People are happier and wellbeing is better for all in more equitable societies. The massively unequal distribution of wealth causes more social instability, health and crime problems.

• When people have a collective voice, they are more able to advocate for their rights and participate in decision-making processes. This results in improved wellbeing.

Social workers embed all these concepts in their work in all parts of the world. We challenge the stereotype that blames individuals for allowing themselves to fall into trouble or for being inadequate or dishonest. We know the reality is different, and more complex. People must exercise individual responsibilities, but they must be able to do this in a fair and just environment which supports them.

Writing this message from Cairo it is impossible not to reflect on the social upheavals of recent years. Discussing this with the local social work community it has become very clear that a fundamental sense of personal insecurity, caused by the absence of a social welfare system, fuelled frustration and political unrest.

What do social workers want? Governments with heart. Politicians who take the trouble to understand the real human experience and to avoid cruel stereotypes and slogans. Policies that recognise the potential in people, and enable their aspirations. Until and after such a time, social workers will play their part; they will continue to facilitate and support people in discovering their confidence and ability to make positive decisions for themselves and their next generation.

Like millions of others worldwide I am proud to be a social worker. Proud to be a part of a profession that acts decisively on its deep understanding of human behaviour. We assist people in difficulty and support them and their families to regain confidence, to fulfil their sense of responsibility as parents, community members and citizens – and at the same time we influence social policy and political outcomes. I am proud to be a member of a profession that makes contributions of consequence.

IFSW and partner organisations will be issuing the first response to the world social and economic crisis on 9 July at the Wold Conference for Social Work and Social Development. The report will be featured by the Guardian Social Care Network, which is media partner for the conference.

From the International Federation of Social Workers.

Download the Thai Poster

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IFSW Supports: A Social Protection Floor for Everyone

The IFSW supports the Internal Labour Organizations (ILO) recommendation 202 concerning ‘National Floors on Social Protection’.

Social Protection Floors give guarantees for basic income security and access to essential health care and education for all. Currently about 80% of the world’s peoples have no access to social protection systems and live in social insecurity facing a complete loss of income when a personal, economic or environmental crisis occurs.

IFSW along with more than 70 NGOs is member of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors, which is calling for the human right to social security to be realized by 2030 and to be one goal included in the post 2015 Development Goals.

IFSW Secretary General, Dr Rory Truell said, “Social Protection Floors are a vitally important element within the raft of strategies and actions need to confront poverty and disadvantage. Without SPFs and reliable income there can be no sustainable wellbeing. Social protection is a basic human right. It is a gross global failure in the realization of human rights that so few people have access to social and health security”.

Klaus Kühne IFSW’s Main Representative to the United Nations in Geneva said, “Social workers have an important role to play in the implementation of social protections systems and in the delivery of social welfare benefits”. “Our focus is to get the right social services to support people find sustainable answers to social problems, but this is only possible when services are available for all people, not just 20% of the worlds population”.

To read the statement from the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors click here.

BC Social Workers

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Celebrating World Social Work Day - March 18th 2014

World Social Work Day: taking action against inequality

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