International Federation of Social Workers
European Region
uuu
1st November 2003
Press Release
Social Work Action Day 2003
DISABILITY, HUMAN RIGHTS
&
SOCIAL WORK
Social workers - promoting
inclusion of
people with disabilities
November 11th 2003
Social workers right
across Europe will be celebrating Social Work Action Day [SWAD] on Tuesday 11th
November. SWAD highlights and celebrates the role of social work in society and
its contribution to social inclusion and to creating a better life for all
residents of Europe. The recognition of rights and responsibilities is central
to social work practice, so it is fitting that this year we highlight the
European Year of People with Disabilities.
Many social workers
all over Europe are involved in working with or providing services for people
with disabilities, or in providing information on social inclusion or
developing policy and legislation to assist people with disability to live
fully and contribute to society.
“Social workers play
a major role in all European countries”, says David N Jones, European President
of IFSW. “Social workers work with some
of the most vulnerable people in our communities and they make an essential
contribution to safe and vibrant communities”, he continues. “But at the same time, social work itself is
changing in response to the fast pace of social and economic change in Europe
and the impact of globalisation. New
models of practice and organisation are emerging in the western European
countries, whilst economic transformation in central and eastern Europe is
highlighting the need for strong social welfare systems. Social work is an essential part of these new
arrangements. Whatever the changes,
social work remains committed to the core values of respect for individual
rights and dignity and mutual responsibility for a healthy community.
Member organisations
in European countries are responsible for arranging activities to celebrate the
day. Here are some of the things which
are happening around Europe:
Here are just some of
the things which are happening around Europe:
International web chat on 11/11/03 - visit http://www.baillie.org.uk/chat/ only on 11/11/2003
Bulgaria, Romania -
regional conferences on disability, human rights and social work with local
politicians, leaders of NGOs and people with disabilities - with press
involvement
Italy - launch of a “manifesto” of
the rights of disabled people
Ukraine - a new training manual for
social work practitioners
Hungary - a three-day conference
(called Social Professionals Days) about disability, possibilities of
rehabilitation and social work with disabled persons with local government
Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, United Kingdom, Sweden,
Portugal - articles in their journals
Iceland, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Russia - conferences on disability, human rights and social work
Finland - special poster
distributed, one day conference held on 18th October, new political
campaign on better support for people with disabilities in employment
United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Turkey, Russia,
Romania - meetings with national and local politicians
Russia - internet conference of
social workers, a festival of disabled people involving the Integration
Rehabilitation Theatre
United
Kingdom - a reception in Parliament, a government
minister is being invited by 2 adults with learning disabilities to visit them
in supported accommodation they've recently moved into
France
and Poland - information on disability, human rights and
social work on their websites
PORTRAITS
OF SOCIAL WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES
Information about individual social workers
with disabilities have been sent from some member associations. For more
information please write an email to:
hjkastanienbaum@hotmail.com and
luzern@freierzugang.ch
Turkey: 2 Bulgaria:
1 Russia: 2 Portugal: 2 Switzerland:
3 Latvia: 2
NOTE FOR EDITORS
Contact Ana Radulescu IFSW Europe Honorary Secretary
europe@ifsw.org
David
N Jones, President of IFSW Europe vpeur@ifsw.org
International
Federation Of Social Workers
The International Federation Of Social Workers
is the global federation of professional organisations representing around
450,000 social workers in 78 countries.
The European Region covers almost all of Europe with member organisations
in 35 countries and around 164,145 members.
IFSW has special consultative status with the Economic and Social
Council of the United Nations, UNICEF, and the Council of Europe and is
involved in consultations with the European Union . IFSW is also on the
International Labour Organisation special list of non-governmental
organisations. In addition to regular publications, IFSW develops instruments
in core areas of social work to inform practitioners globally. Individuals and
organisations can affiliate to IFSW through our "Friends of IFSW' programme"
Appendix - Summary
The
European Year of People with Disabilities
The year opened in January 2003.
The aim of the year is to show that people
with disabilities have equal rights to
participate fully in society.
Approximately 37 million disabled people live
in Europe.
Social
exclusion of and discrimination against people with disabilities
Disabled people are often discriminated
against before they are even born
because of prenatal diagnosis or genetic
research.
Disabled children cannot always access
ordinary schools.
Disabled people often do not have the chance
to obtain a professional education.
Disabled people often find it difficult to
obtain work.
Disabled people are not always able to access
new technologies.
Disabled people cannot always access public
transport, public services or public
buildings.
Human
rights, social work and disability
The right of participation is a human right.
Every state should promote the human rights of
disabled people in every possible
regard.
Discrimination, separation and special
treatment should be abolished.
Everyone has human rights including those with
a mental, physical or
psychological disability.
Social workers should always commit themselves
to human rights and human
dignity.
The
work of social workers with people with disabilities
Social workers support disabled people to
access all aspects of society.
Social workers support disabled people to
advocate for themselves.
Social workers support disabled people to live
independent lives.
Social workers support the principle of
self-determination for disabled people
Social workers work in and support self-help
organisations.
Social workers provide professional help for
disabled people.
Social workers intervene in social-political
debates, in legal foundations, in social
security systems for the rights of disabled
people.
Social workers work in professional advice
centres or in special institutions with
children, adults and old people with
disabilities.
The
experience of social workers who themselves have disabilities
Social workers with disabilities often have
the same experiences of discrimination
or exclusion as other people with
disabilities.
They too can have problems obtaining work.
They can have difficulties with access to
universities or schools of social work.
Associations
of social workers
The role of professional associations of
social workers may include some or all of the
following activities:
Associations provide advice to social workers
on implementation of the rights of
disabled people.
Associations provide information and training
on advanced knowledge and
experience of and skills in working with
disabled people.
Associations conduct action in support of the
rights of disabled people.
Associations co-ordinate the activity of
disabled social workers.
Associations provide professional assistance
to disabled social workers.
Associations help and support contacts between
the state and organisations of
disabled people.
7th November 2003