Compiling an international picture of the state of social work
The newly launched European Observatory wants to hear from social workers
David N Jones, Guardian UK,
The conference saw the launch of the European Observatory on Social Work and Social Development which is calling for evidence about the state of social work and social development in Europe. You can find out more about submitting evidence here.
The British Association of Social Workers and the umbrella body for social work educators in the UK (JUC – SWC) are already pulling evidence together in the UK and would welcome input from others. Submissions, for example about child protection, care for people with dementia and partnerships with service users, should be sent to this national partnership in the first instance.
The theme for the first observatory report is promoting social and economic equalities, also the theme for world social work days in March 2013 and 2014.
The European Observatory on Social Work is the regional arm of the Global Observatory, established by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW). It will contribute to the first report of the new Global Observatory to be published in July 2014. The initiative will also contribute to the United Nations review of the millennium development goals, with UN decisions being made in 2014-15 about the new global development priorities.
It is the first initiative to compile an overview of the state of social work in Europe and worldwide. Susan Lawrence, president of the European Association of Schools of Social Work, Christian Rollet, president of ICSW Europe and Cristina Martins, president of IFSW Europe, said: "This joint initiative will record and promote the social activities that address the major social problems facing Europe. In these times of social crisis and austerity in Europe, it is essential that social workers and social development professionals find effective ways to document what is happening in our continent."
Social workers have an ethical and practical responsibility to inform the wider community about the extent of social problems and the state of social work. For the first time, this will be co-ordinated across the continents and around the world.
Throughout the conference in Istanbul, delegates heard about the devastating impact of the financial and social crisis sweeping Europe and its impact on the most vulnerable people. Leading thinkers such as Thomas Hammarberg, immediate past commissioner for human rights in the Council of Europe, and policy leaders such as Régis Brillat, head of the Council of Europe department of the social charter and of the European code of social security and Morten Kjaerum, director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights described the dire social situation not only in Greece and Portugal but also in France and the UK.
The activities of the three organisations will focus on promoting social and economic equalities, promoting the dignity and worth of peoples, working toward environmental sustainability and strengthening recognition of the importance of human relationships. The need for effective and ethical environments for social work practice and education underpins the priorities.
The regional reports will be submitted to the Global Observatory by 31 December and the Global Report will be published in July next year.
The timing enables the practical experience of social workers and social development practitioners to feed into the major United Nations review of social priorities. The voice of social workers is being heard – and welcomed.
David N Jones is a former president of the International Federation of Social Workers and a member of the Global Observatory team
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