The Human Rights Day December 10, 2007 marks the start of a year-long commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Declaration was the first global statement to mark the dignity and equality of all human beings. The Declaration is the most translated document in the world, available in more than 360 languages. But we are still far away from the implementation of this historical document as the fundamental freedoms celebrated in it are still not a reality for all people around the world.
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) joins the United Nations in its ambition to make the year of commemoration a year of implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 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 organizations 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. To implement the Human Rights agenda of IFSW a special Human Rights Commission has been set up.
IFSW as an international organization 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.
Downloadable PDF document on Human Rights and Social Work