Lisbeth Mattsson (1952-2004)

Lisbeth Mattsson

5 August 1952 –13 December 2004

Lisbeth Mattsson was born in Sweden on the 5th of August 1952. Born in the first decade after the Second World War, Lisbeth grew up to embrace a passionate commitment to the principles of social justice. Her thirst for knowledge and curiosity to learn formed the very foundation of her life’s path.
Lisbeth nurtured a very clear sense of fairness and equity, and a commitment to non-discrimination and peaceful conflict resolution. A trained journalist, she used her prodigious intelligence, communication and language skills to bring life and clarity to often complex and difficult issues, to distil important messages and make them accessible for a wide audience.
Lisbeth worked for many years in the Union Movement in both her home country of Sweden and her adopted Norway. Nordic commitment to social justice is renowned and the union movement is particularly known for its advocacy and practical support of the oppressed at home and around the world. In this milieu that Lisbeth honed her already impeccable values and principles.
Lisbeth’s commitment to the values of the social work profession thus dates back many years. However her relationship with the profession strengthened when she met Tom Johannesen at an international trade union training event in Geneva. Tom and Lisbeth married in Lisbon in 1986 and so began an enduring partnership that nurtured a wealth of talent.
Lisbeth’s support for the social work profession has been both direct and indirect. As Tom’s partner in his many social work roles, she provided unyielding support and her own wisdom. She provided very practical and active support at meetings, conferences and functions throughout Nordic countries and later around the globe.
When IFSW relocated to Switzerland Lisbeth’s relationship with the profession firmed into a formal role as the IFSW Communications Officer. Together she and Tom set about re-establishing the office and driving forward the work of the profession. To her role as communications officer Lisbeth brought her professional skills, her enormous talent with languages and her abiding commitment to social justice, human rights and the role that social work could play in developing these values internationally.
Many people have commented about the immense value of the IFSW Website and IFSW Update, the regular e-mail broadsheet. Both of these initiatives are testimony to Lisbeth’s abilities. She managed the IFSW Friends program and so many people around the world will identify the feeling she gave them of being the single most important friend that IFSW ever had join the organisation. Lisbeth’s interpersonal skills were without parallel. She had a unique capacity to make every person she met feel very special and valued. Seeing Lisbeth again at an IFSW Conference or meeting was like being wrapped in the warmest blanket of real affection. Upon seeing someone she had corresponded with her face would quite literally light up with an expression of such joy – no-one could help but be carried along with her optimistic outlook.

Lisbeth’s skill with languages was impressive. She spoke her native tongue of Swedish, as well as Norwegian, Danish, German, French and English. She could communicate in Spanish and a little Japanese, Arabic, Russian and Chinese. To many friends and members of IFSW she provided the comfort and welcome of finding someone who could communicate, at whatever level, in their own language. It was another of her hallmarks.
Even in the most difficult of circumstances Lisbeth’s’ capacity to find a thread of hope, strength and a vision for a positive future was a rare and precious gift that she shared with many. Writing recently about the tragedy in Beslan she said
When travails like this occur, it is easy to be seized with frenzy, to think of revenge and to support political hard liners. However, as we have seen also in other parts of the world, hard military responses do not diminish or prevent new terror attacks. On the contrary, they seem to stimulate and support them.
Therefore it is important to work for democratic and lasting political solutions and to look closer into the reasons why some human beings are prepared to carry out such heinous crimes.’
This ability to move beyond the immediate, look for a deeper cause and meaning and then work to resolve conflict peacefully was the very essence of her belief system and being.
Lisbeth drew great comfort, joy and stimulation from music, nature, books, travel and meeting people. She found a resonance for her spirituality and her commitments to social justice, fairness and multi-culturalism in her Bahai faith. Her faith sustained her in many ways, including during the seven months since her diagnosis with a terminal illness. As a Bahai, Lisbeth believed that the death of the body held no fear as it marked the moment of birth “into a greater and more whole life”.
Her relationship with Tom was precious beyond all measure. Together they forged the most wonderful couple, loved by so many as individuals and as a couple.
The world has lost a talented, optimistic, passionate, engaging and wonderful woman. Social Work has lost one of its great advocates and we have lost a trusted colleague and loved friend. Her family have lost a beloved daughter and sister. Tom has lost his life’s partner.
Yet in this time of such profound loss and sadness we must also pause to give thanks for and celebrate the life of an exceptional woman. Around the world social workers and others of every culture, religious and belief system pause to honour Lisbeth, her life, her unique contributions and to give thanks for the privilege of knowing her.

Imelda Dodds
President
International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
15 December 2004