Annamaria Campanini

President, IASSW

Prof. Phd in Social Work

Milano Bicocca University

The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development : Implication for Social Work Education

THREE INTERNATIONAL

ORGANIZATIONS

IASSW

International Association of Schools of Social Work

ICSW

International Council on Social Welfare

IFSW

International Federation of Social Workers

IASSW

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL WORK

-is an international community of schools and educators in social work, promoting quality education, training and research in the theory and practice of social work, administration of social services and formulation of social policies. - -www.iassw-aiets.org

ICSW

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SOCIAL WELFARE

- is a global, non-governmental organisation which represents tens of thousands of organisations around the world that are actively involved in programmes to promote social welfare, social development and social justice. www.icsw.org

IFSW

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS

- is the global federation of national social work organisations and represent professional social workers www.ifsw.org

THE FIRST JOINT

CONFERENCE

IASSW, IFSW and ICSW have decided to cooperate in a stronger way and organise joint international conference.

The first was

THE FIRST JOINT

CONFERENCE - To claim/reclaim the priority of ‘political’ action and to develop a collective voice for social development and social work practitioners and social work educators - To start a collective process of elaborating and setting a common Global Agenda for years to come that can unite those involved in social work and social development - To strategise around mechanisms for the implementation of common actions and the development of modalities for monitoring our efforts

THE FIRST JOINT

CONFERENCE Over three thousand Social Work

Practitioners and Educators were meeting in

Hong Kong in June 2010 and have

participated in the process

- to identify common major and relevant

social issues

- to launch a global movement that

addresses the major challenges of our

societies

THE GLOBAL AGENDA

The three organisations (IASSW, IFSW and ICSW) have set up a common platform to help steer the process and support colleagues around the world towards their deliberations and mobilisation initiatives in relation to the Global Agenda

THE GLOBAL AGENDA

Since the Hong Kong conference in June 2010, numerous initiatives have taken place across the globe

The feedback from the two reports of the

observatories set up in the 5 regions demonstrated that issues identified in the draft Global Agenda document were endorsed by the majority of the members who provided feedback

The Global Agenda four areas:

- Promoting social and economic

equalities

- Promoting the dignity and worth of peoples

- Working toward environmental sustainability

- Strengthening recognition of the importance of human relationships

The recent and continuing economic crises and the modalities chosen by world leaders to deal with them (e.g. using resources to support the financial systems while cutting resources for social support and social development) have led to:

Social and economic inequalities

within countries and between

regions

- Growing inequalities and their implications

- The worsening marginalisation of

populations and of the working poor

- Increased vulnerability of poor people in

countries which do not have an adequate

social protection floor

- Community disintegration

Social and economic inequalities

within countries and between

regions

- Human rights issues in relation to social, economic, cultural and political situations

- Respect for diversity and different belief

systems, especially indigenous and first

people’s voices

- Political instabilities, violence,

dominations, and the erosion of peace

building processes

Dignity and worth

of the person

- Terrorism and modes of response by states and the modalities of handling global conflicts

- Migration, refugees, trafficking,

immigrants, immigration and ways of

handling these issues

- The role for social work practice, education

and social development

Dignity and worth

of the person

- Disasters of natural and human origin, management and prevention

- Involvement of local communities in developing

responses

- Implications for sustainable social development

- Protecting the physical environment

- Proactive engagement with social, human and

ecological development

Sustainable communities

and environmentally

sensitive development

Family and relationship issues and

challenges across the lifespan emerge as a

major concern in relation to the

transformation of the world. For example the

needs of: - Children and families

- People with Disabilities

- People needing health and mental health services

- People who are ageing

- People with drugs and substance abuse problems

- People suffering from violence within domestic and

intimate relationships

Sustainable human relationships

Extending partnerships

Building capacity and assets

Developing a unified professional voice

Engaging with local, national, regional and

global bodes

Strengthening analysis and consolidating

evidence to support collective advocacy and

action

NEW CHALLENGES

CALL FOR NEW STRATEGIES

* The United Nations and other

international agencies

* Communities and other partners

* Our own organisations

ENGAGEMENT AT DIFFERENT

LEVELS - 2012/2020 ##lose" config:type="boolean">The United Nations and other international agencies

Prepare future social workers to

have:

- a good base on the

international perspectives

- some knowledge of global

events and processes as well

as of cross-cultural issues

How can social work education contribute?

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Topics to be revised with and

international perspectives: oNatural and forced migration

oConflict in communities

oDivision of people, based on gender,

race, etnicity, class and religion

oExplotation of children and women

oGlobal spread of diseases

oClimate changes….

How can social work education contribute?

But also: -Differences in welfare systems

-Weakening and inevitable

transformation of the welfare state

-New actors participating in the social

field

-New conceptions of family care and

responsability, childhood and old

age….

How can social work education contribute?

So that they will be able to:

-produce multi-factor analysis of

social problems

-think globally and act locally

-connect personal problems with

structural and political aspects

How can social work education contribute?

Developing modules that: -focus on human right and social

justice

-recognition and respect of diversities

-foster competences on social and

individual advocacy

-enhance policy practice as part of the

daily social work activities

How can social work education contribute?

Increasing educational methods:

-based on critical thinking and

reflective practice

-developing intercultural

competences

How can social work education contribute?

Some further contribution

Make a synthesis of social practice and theory with a global outlook

Overcame local identities and interest towards a wider and deper view in the social work education

Increase cross cultural experience beyond national boundaries in internship and fieldwork contents

Inter-univeristy faculty and students exchanges, contribution to the development of international and comparative social work

Collaborative researches on the topics linked to the global agenda

2016-2018 : Working toward environmental sustainability

Social workers can play a considerable role

in:

- Promoting projects for the "survivors" of the

climate change, including those affected by

drought, floods, storms, heat waves, cold snaps

or armed conflicts linked to a lack of resources;

- The development of a climate change theory for

the profession;

2016-2018 : Working toward environmental sustainability

- Undertaking research that aims to mitigate the

effects of climate change, facilitate adaptation

and lead to a reduction of the risks this

phenomenon poses throughout the world.

- Demanding that greater consideration is given

to the situation of people who are exposed to

climate change risks and ensuring that their

voices are heard in all discussions, including

those concerning prevention, anticipation and

mitigation of risks.

-

2016-2018 : Working toward environmental sustainability

-Supporting both victim-survivors of climate

change disasters and those other professionals

coming to their aid in situations of disaster

and/or crisis.

- Working with individuals and groups during the

post-disaster management through a strengths-

based approach to promote agenda setting and

action plans, advocacy, resilience, leadership,

and reconstruction.

2016-2018 : Working toward environmental sustainability

Social work educators can contribute to the third

pillar of the global agenda

- introducing the environmental sustainability in

the programs through specific modules that can

provide basic competences.

- creating innovative master courses focusing on

the role of social work in this area

- developing research

Contact me at:

Prof. Annnamaria Campanini President

International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)

c/o Department Sociology and Social Research Milano Bicocca University

E-mail: annamaria@iassw-aiets.org http://www.iassw-aiets.org/