by David N JonesThe biannual General Meeting of the International Federation of Social Workers, is always held in association with the World Social Work Conference, this year held in Salvador, Brazil.
The general meeting had a packed agenda, with a variety of new policy papers. New and updated international policies on health, genocide, cross-border reproductive services, ageing and older adults were approved and will soon be on the IFSW website. Draft policies on poverty and women were debated and will be subject to further consultation. Policies are usually drafted by international working groups representing IFSW's five world regions. New applications to join IFSW from six countries were approved including - Zambia, Liberia, Fiji, Sierra Leone and Libya. There were lively reports from IFSW's United Nations teams in New York, Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna and from other representatives.
Looking outwards
There was a real sense that the organisation was looking outwards, focussing on the challenges of social work and social policy in the world rather than being preoccupied with its internal affairs.
For example, IFSW launched World Social Work Day (WSWD) in 2007, building on the success of the well-established European Social Work Action Day. The IFSW website shows that this event has quickly become established around the world with events in many countries, linked with the annual social work day at the United Nations in New York which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. A decision was made that WSWD would be celebrated every year on the 3rd Tuesday in March and there was agreement about the theme for the next 2 years, linked with the 2010 world conference in Hong Kong.
Supporting national debates
IFSW is determined to ensure that there are clear global statements about the important areas of social work policy and practice to support national debates, to make sure that these are well informed, well publicised and influential. This is a crucial element in the struggle to explain the social work perspective and social work contribution to resolving the huge and growing social problems facing the world.
So the meeting concluded recognising that there is a big and exciting agenda for the next 2 years, which will come together in the next world conference and global meetings in Hong Kong 2010. That conference will be shared with the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and the International Council on Social Welfare. This provides a unique opportunity for social work to rediscover its self-confidence and global authority.
Unsupported and undervalued
Over the next 2 years IFSW, IASSW and ICSW will lead a global contribution on the priorities for social work and social development for the next decade, consulting leading global institutions and other partners including service users. As part of that process, IFSW and IASSW will bring recommendations from consultations on the current World Definition of Social Work and the World Ethical Principles for Social Work. There will also be new policy statements for consultation.
All around the world many social workers I meet say that they feel unsupported, misunderstood and undervalued. There are many reasons for this, not least the growing suspicion of 'experts' and 'professionals' whoever they may be. But it is essential that as world leaders we show leadership and provide a focus and vision for our profession. The Salvador meetings provided a launch pad for that leadership and global vision. Of course the IFSW leadership, in partnership with other organisations, must now deliver on that strategy and develop that vision.
David N Jones is president of the International Federation of Social Workers
Looking outwards
There was a real sense that the organisation was looking outwards, focussing on the challenges of social work and social policy in the world rather than being preoccupied with its internal affairs.
For example, IFSW launched World Social Work Day (WSWD) in 2007, building on the success of the well-established European Social Work Action Day. The IFSW website shows that this event has quickly become established around the world with events in many countries, linked with the annual social work day at the United Nations in New York which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. A decision was made that WSWD would be celebrated every year on the 3rd Tuesday in March and there was agreement about the theme for the next 2 years, linked with the 2010 world conference in Hong Kong.
Supporting national debates
IFSW is determined to ensure that there are clear global statements about the important areas of social work policy and practice to support national debates, to make sure that these are well informed, well publicised and influential. This is a crucial element in the struggle to explain the social work perspective and social work contribution to resolving the huge and growing social problems facing the world.
So the meeting concluded recognising that there is a big and exciting agenda for the next 2 years, which will come together in the next world conference and global meetings in Hong Kong 2010. That conference will be shared with the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and the International Council on Social Welfare. This provides a unique opportunity for social work to rediscover its self-confidence and global authority.
Unsupported and undervalued
Over the next 2 years IFSW, IASSW and ICSW will lead a global contribution on the priorities for social work and social development for the next decade, consulting leading global institutions and other partners including service users. As part of that process, IFSW and IASSW will bring recommendations from consultations on the current World Definition of Social Work and the World Ethical Principles for Social Work. There will also be new policy statements for consultation.
All around the world many social workers I meet say that they feel unsupported, misunderstood and undervalued. There are many reasons for this, not least the growing suspicion of 'experts' and 'professionals' whoever they may be. But it is essential that as world leaders we show leadership and provide a focus and vision for our profession. The Salvador meetings provided a launch pad for that leadership and global vision. Of course the IFSW leadership, in partnership with other organisations, must now deliver on that strategy and develop that vision.
David N Jones is president of the International Federation of Social Workers
World Conference of Social Work
Światowa Konferencja Pracy Socjalnej
http://www.ops.pl/news.php?id=16313
David, best regards from
Warsaw, POLAND
Andrzej Gocłowski
social worker
Dear Friends,
For various reasons, I could not take part in the Salvador-Conference, but I was with you anyway and I read the reports on the ifsw.org website - thanks to our technology. It looks like it was a great success and I congratulate the organizers, the presenters and the many participants.
One of the reasons for not having been there was my participation in a touching event concerning our IFSW MOST DISTINGUISHED SOCIAL WORKER, IRENA SENDLER from Poland, which took place in Kansas/USA, where her saga was revived: The play LIFE IN A JAR (www.irenasendler.org). Irena Sendler passed away this last May at the age of 98. In order to keep up the exemple of this courageous colleague, this play may be considered for one of the coming World Conferences of IFSW.
(Joachim Wieler)