VIOLENCE & TRAFFICKING

Social Workers against exploitation

9 November

To highlight and celebrate the role of social work in society and its contribution to social inclusion and to creating a better life for all residents of Europe, social worker all over Europe are celebrating Social Work Action Day. The social worker respect of people’s right to make their own choices and decision and their belief in worth and dignity of each individual person fits with the subject of this year that we celebrate Social Workers against Exploitation.

Trafficking and violence is increasingly the concern of social workers: the violence is very frequent in everyday life and the trafficking rate increase dramatically in the last years and the consequence of violence and trafficking go far beyond the individual, affecting the children, the family and the society at large.

Social workers recognize that violence and trafficking is a human right violation and commit themselves to work toward elimination of violence against women, children and old people. Social workers are engaging in the works that aim to change the social condition which contribute to an increase in violence and trafficking and are engaging in providing professional support through the social services, aiming to support those who have been injured as a consequence for violence and trafficking.

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:

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 18^th 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

NOTE FOR EDITORS

Contact

Ana Radulescu IFSW Europe Honorary Secretary europe@ifsw.org

David N Jones, President of IFSW Europe vpeur@ifsw.org

For more information about Social Work Action Day in Europe visit http://www.ifsw.org./Info/SWAD2003-1.info.html

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"

7^th November 2004