IFSW Human Rights Activities

Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are based on respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people. Since its beginnings over a century ago, social work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human potential. Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action.

IFSW promotes Human Rights by publishing statements on human rights issues and related matters and by raising awareness within the profession about the profession’s commitment to its Human Rights heritage. IFSW has adopted an International Policy on Human Rights describing its commitment and giving guidance to social workers and social work organisations on human rights policy matters. IFSW has together with the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) developed and published a Manual on Social Work and Human Rights. IFSW has also published a Manual on Social Work and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. To implement the Human Rights agenda of IFSW a special commission has been set up Human Rights Commission.

IFSW as an international organisation also acts in the human rights field by supporting and defending the human rights of individual social workers, social work educators and students through appeals and demand for fair and transparent legal process and humane conditions in detention and imprisonment.

IFSW opposes capital punishment, torture or cruel and inhuman punishment of any social workers detained.