Left to right: Pascal Rudin, Eva Ponce de Leon, Sibel Arslan, Michel Rudin
During the autumn session of the Swiss Parliament, IFSW Global President Eva Ponce de Leon and Interim Secretary-General Pascal Rudin visited the Federal Palace in Bern on 14 September 2026, where they met with Swiss National Councillor Sibel Arslan.
The exchange focused on how social work can contribute more strongly to political and policy processes at national, European and global levels. A central topic was the European Social Charter and opportunities for collaboration to advance social rights.
The discussion was particularly relevant given Arslan’s engagement with the Council of Europe, where she serves as Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Assembly’s Sub-Committee on the European Social Charter. Her work also encompasses wider human rights and social policy issues, providing a valuable basis for exploring connections between European rights frameworks, national policy and the social work profession.
The European Social Charter is highly relevant to social work. It addresses rights that are encountered every day in social work practice, including social protection, housing, health, employment, education, protection from poverty and social exclusion, and the rights of children, families, older people and persons with disabilities. Connecting these rights frameworks more closely with professional practice can strengthen social work’s contribution not only to supporting individuals and communities, but also to addressing the structural conditions that create inequality and exclusion.
Left to right: Sibel Arslan, Swiss National Councillor; Eva Ponce de Leon, IFSW President
The meeting also explored artificial intelligence and digital transformation as emerging areas requiring greater engagement from social work. AI is increasingly influencing access to services, employment, education, social protection and public decision-making, while raising questions around discrimination, accountability, privacy and participation. The discussion highlighted the importance of ensuring that technological developments are shaped by human rights and social justice and that the perspectives of affected people and communities are included.
These conversations connect directly with IFSW’s wider work through the People’s Charter for a New Eco-Social World. The Charter calls for societies founded on human rights, social justice, sustainability, solidarity and shared responsibility, recognising that social, economic, technological and environmental challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. It also emphasises the importance of bringing communities, professions, civil society and political institutions together in shaping more inclusive and sustainable futures.
Discussions at the Federal Palace
Alongside the parliamentary exchange, Eva Ponce de Leon and Pascal Rudin also met with Michel Rudin, a Swiss public affairs professional and entrepreneur with experience across politics, business and civil society, to explore opportunities for engagement with the private and philanthropic sectors, including through corporate social responsibility and potential funding partnerships. The discussion considered how such partnerships could support social work priorities while remaining grounded in the profession’s values and ethical principles. One area explored was the possibility of mobilising resources to strengthen access to social work education for students from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, helping to reduce financial barriers to entering the profession.
Drawing on his experience in public affairs and Swiss politics, Michel Rudin also provided an introduction to the Swiss political system and funding landscape, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for building partnerships and mobilising resources within the current political environment. The exchange considered how relationships across civil society, public institutions, foundations and responsible private-sector actors could contribute to sustainable initiatives supporting social development objectives.
The visit provided an opportunity to connect global and European perspectives with national political dialogue while also exploring new forms of partnership and resource mobilisation. Strengthening these connections can help ensure that social work’s knowledge, experience and values contribute to policy development and wider societal transformation, while creating practical opportunities to invest in the next generation of social workers.
IFSW extends its appreciation to Michel Rudin for arranging the visit to the Federal Palace and facilitating the exchange with Sibel Arslan.