Abstract
The fourth pillar of the Global Agenda: ‘Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships’ was the cornerstone of the World Social Work day celebrations in Geneva on 19 March.
Social work since its inception has fixed the helping relationship as a central element of the professional intervention and the use of this tool can be analysed at various levels, all extremely important. Every day social workers are involved in dealing with circumstances where relationships are affected by tensions and conflicts, both in the situations of people who use the services and in more general contexts when professionals liaise with colleagues, administrators and social actors in the community.
Moreover, there are occurrences where it is necessary to link the issue of relationships with rights, to ensure that these are respected. There is a need to find a balance between concurrent rights, and social workers find themselves engaging in interventions aimed to reduce the marginalization of those who are often invisible, developing participatory processes in communities and increasing health and well-being for all to promote sustainable development.
We live in challenging times. With the shift towards individualism and liberal logic within the welfare system, it is more important than in the past to reflect on the meaning and effects of professional action that cannot be limited to the bureaucratic provision of resources, be they few or many. Social workers should rediscover the heart of the professional intervention: acceptance, listening, identification of capabilities and not only problems in the clients situation, dialogue to grasp the other in its wholeness. We must consider their positioning not as experts who adopt an instructive logic, but as a professionals that can temporarily accompany the person in his life, developing a collaboration process towards possible change.
The theme of relationships also reminds us of the historical core concept person in environment. In the past 2 years, the third pillar of the Global Agenda has helped to reflect on how to integrate the aspect of environmental sustainability into the holistic approach that characterizes social work, activating projects and interventions in the community, as well as policy practice actions to develop a society more respectful of the rights of all.
To underline this commitment, a joint video messages was prepared by both Presidents of IASSW and IFSW in Spanish with subtitles in English: https://youtu.be/6lcd4l2PCH0 and shared in all social media.
At the Geneva meeting, there was a major focus on the inclusion of women, as well as marginalized genders and sexualities, in all spheres of society. The event co-organized by the team represented IASSW, IFSW, UNRISD and the Universities of Applied Sciences of Geneva and Friburg payed special attention to strategies and policies to combat the discrimination and inequality of these groups in all societies.
Nino Zagnec, President EASSW, represented both IASSW and EASSW. You can find more on this at https://www.hesge.ch/hets/actualites/2018/100-ans-hets-journee-internationale-du-travail-social-2019-onu-geneve
The co-organized event (a collaboration between IASSW, IFSW and ICSW) in New York on 1 April centred on child protection. Lynne Healy – IASSW Main representative at UN, Barbara Shank – IASSW secretary, as well as the IASSW interns at UN participated to the initiative.
The programme was live stream at UN Web TV: http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/watch/social-work-day-2019-at-the-united-nations/6021318335001/?term=#.XMpYBCHFDoU.gmail
World Social Work at UN in Bangkok was celebrated on 4 April by IASSW, ICSW and IFSW. Prof. Zulkarnain Hatta, President of APASWE and Vice President of IASSW, represented IASSW in the event, along with the President of IFSW (Asia Pacific) and the Vice President of ICSW. The Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Gen. Anantaporn Kanjanarat, officiated the ceremony, while Mr Thomas Davin, representatives of UNICEF Thailand, gave the keynote speech.
Partnership between the IASSW–ICSW–IFSW
Is important to underline the strengthening of the partnership between the three international organizations IASSW–ICSW–IFSW as outcome of the Tripartite Meeting held in London on 4 and 5 February. There has been a commitment to continue to work together to in the preparation of the next edition of the Global Agenda 2020/2030. A task force will be set up with two experts for each organization, under the coordination of Abye Tasse to prepare a draft that will be submitted for consideration and feedback to Rimini and Calgary conferences, respectively. The outcome of the discussions will be reconciled by the existing task force in the wake of the above Conferences, in a final document that will accompany the efforts of the three organizations in strengthening the impact of the social work, social work education and social development, in promoting human rights and social justice.
A bid for the 2022 joint conference has been published in our website and distribute on social media.