Social work and social development community prepares to meet in Hong Kong
Social work and social development community prepares to meet in Hong Kong
More than 2,500 Social workers from more than 110 countries are preparing to travel to Hong Kong for the biennial world conference of social work and social development, being held on 10-14 June 2010. They come from literally all corners of the world.
For the first time, the conference is being organised by the 3 sister global bodies, the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) in partnership with 6 local partners.
The key note speaker is Mr. Sha Zukang, United Nations Under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs. He is expected to address the successes and disappointments in progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to speak about the crucial role of social work and social development professionals in making links between global policy and local action.
Other plenary speakers come from Uruguay, Slovenia, Ethiopia, Israel, New Zealand, Japan, China, the United States, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Sweden, to name just a few places, and there will be scores of workshops, discussion groups and poster sessions presenting work from all around the world.
The conference process is designed to produce a global agenda for social work and social development. This is a first for these global conferences and it is hoped the agenda will set a framework for dialogue between UN and other global agencies and the global representative bodies, but also between regional structures and national governments and bodies.
See more information at:
2010 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development The Agenda
and
International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) – Hong Kong Agenda Consultation Papers to build the Global Action Agenda
IFSW will also hold the Bienniual General Meeting after the conference. See the agenda and papers at –
International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) – General Meeting 2010
IFSW President, David N Jones, commented – ‘all round the world I find social workers frustrated at being marginalised and unheard. We have a large amount of experience and knowledge but too often the policy debate is dominated by economists and theorists who lack our direct knowledge and experience. The consequences of this failure to apply people-centred policies are seen in the global financial crash and the destructive policies being implemented as a result, which are an attack on women, children and the most vulnerable people in our communities.
‘Now is the time for social workers to rediscover our self-confidence and to assert our professional perspective. We, more than most professions, know that social development and personal services must involve partnership with other agencies and professions. We also recognise that nothing can be done without involving and listening to local communities and service users and working in partnership with them. But social workers have a special and valuable perspective and it has been ignored for too long. The Hong Kong agenda will provide a platform for a new professional self-confidence. The professional voice of social work and social development will be heard!’
NOTE TO EDITORS
IFSW is the global federation of national social work organisations in more than 80 countries representing over 700,000 social workers. IFSW has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is also accredited to the International Labour Organization, UNICEF and the Council of Europe. IFSW is a UN Habitat partner organisation.
www.ifsw.org
The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) is the worldwide association of schools of social work, other tertiary level social work educational programmes and social work educators.
www.iassw.org
The International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) is a global non-governmental organisation which represents a wide range of national and international member organisations that seek to advance social welfare, social development and social justice.
www.icsw.org
For more information contact President, IFSW, Bern, Switzerland
E-mail:
Telephone: +41 22 548 36 25
Website www.ifsw.org