Date: Friday, 19 September 2025
Time: 11:00–13:00 UTC (London: 12:00–14:00 BST; Lusaka: 13:00–15:00 CAT)
Location: Online, via Zoom
IFSW is delighted to announce the launch of the new edited volume Local Perspectives on Social Services and Social Work in the Context of War and Conflict.
The book is a powerful reminder that the story of war and political conflict is not only one of destruction and loss, but also of courage, solidarity, and the relentless pursuit of justice. It highlights the lived realities of people and communities who have endured unthinkable violence, forced displacement, and the erosion of livelihoods and rights, yet whose spirit remains unbroken. It also celebrates the role of social workers who stand amidst these challenges, refusing to remain silent and working tirelessly to build conditions for peace and dignity.
As noted in the Foreword by IFSW President Joachim Mumba and Interim Secretary-General Pascal Rudin: “This book tells of social workers who stand amidst these harsh realities, refusing to remain silent, refusing to accept violence and oppression as inevitable and working tirelessly to build conditions in which peace and dignity can take root.”
This volume is the result of a long-standing collaboration between social work practitioners and academics with direct experience of war and conflict. Emerging from the International Network on Social Work and Political Conflict (INSWPC), the thirteen chapters include practitioner reflections, the voices of young refugees, expert interviews, historical and contemporary analyses, and participatory research from across eleven countries.
The launch will provide an opportunity to meet the editors and authors, hear about their collaborative journey, and reflect on how social workers worldwide contribute to peacebuilding and social justice.
The book will be available as a free download from the IFSW Bookstore from 21 September 2025, coinciding with the International Day of Peace.