IFSW at the United Nations: Update from the Asia Pacific team July 2026

IFSW at the United Nations: Update from the Asia Pacific team
July 2026

The IFSW United Nations Commission advocates on key social issues and promotes the important contribution of social work to human rights, social justice and community wellbeing. The IFSW was granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1959.

Guided by IFSW policy and position documents, the Commission works to connect United Nations agendas with the aspirations and lived experiences of communities. It does this through written and verbal submissions, responses to consultations, participation in United Nations forums and events that highlight the role of social work in addressing complex social challenges.

The IFSW United Nations Commission for Asia Pacific was established in 2019, working with the regional UN headquarters in Thailand. Since then, it has strengthened the visibility of social work in regional and global policy discussions, ensuring that the experiences of communities and social workers are considered in international decision-making. The Asia Pacific regional team forms part of the global IFSW United Nations Commission and includes five representatives from Thailand, Iran, Afghanistan, Australia and Yemen. The team also works closely with the global UN Commission with representatives from Africa, Europe, North and South America on key events and actions.

During the first half of 2026, the Commission continued to represent social work at key United Nations events and here is a summary of some of the key events.

UN Asia-Pacific SDG Forum 2026

The IFSW delegation included (f.r.t.l):,Dr Pushkar Sebastian Cordoba (Australia); Dr. Wilaiporn (Kae) Kotbungkair (Thailand); and Dr. Young Joon Hong (Republic of Korea), contributing to a strong civil society presence within the forum.

The IFSW delegation included (f.r.t.l):,Dr Pushkar Sebastian Cordoba (Australia); Dr. Wilaiporn (Kae) Kotbungkair (Thailand); and Dr. Young Joon Hong (Republic of Korea), contributing to a strong civil society presence within the forum.

IFSW UN Representatives participated in the UN’s 2026 Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), where they highlighted the challenges facing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the region.

The team emphasised that growing inequality, climate impacts, economic pressures, and underinvestment in social systems are affecting communities across Asia and the Pacific. IFSW representatives called for stronger investment in social protection, care economies and community-led supports as essential parts of sustainable development.

A key message from the IFSW delegation was the importance of development justice, ensuring that development is based on equity and fair access to resources.

Connecting with the Asia-Pacific Peoples’ Forum

Alongside the official UN forum, the IFSW engaged with the Asia Pacific Peoples’ Forum on Sustainable Development 2026, which brought together civil society organisations and grassroots movements to discuss the future of sustainable development in the region.

The Peoples’ Forum focused on the theme “Resist, Reclaim, Rebuild” and advanced discussions around development justice, addressing structural inequalities, strengthening civil society participation, and ensuring that communities have a meaningful role in decisions affecting their lives.

The participation of social work in these spaces reflects the profession’s commitment to ensuring that development processes are connected to the experiences and needs of people and communities.

IFSW Asia Pacific at the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum

The UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the main global platform for reviewing progress on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It brings together governments, UN agencies, civil society, and other stakeholders to discuss progress, challenges, and actions needed to achieve sustainable development.

Our colleagues of the UN Commission in New York organised a virtual side event during the 2026 HLPF in July, highlighting the contribution of social workers in building inclusive communities, strengthening social protection, and supporting sustainable development. Massoud Ayoubi, IFSW UN Representative for Asia-Pacific and Director of the Afghanistan Social Workers Professional Organization, spoke on “Community-Led Social Work for Inclusive Protection and Sustainable Development.”

IFSW contribution recognised in OHCHR Human Rights report

The IFSW Asia Pacific UN Team led a contribution to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) inquiry on integrated approaches to promoting and protecting human rights and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The final OHCHR report cited the IFSW submission, recognising the importance of protecting civic space and human rights defenders, while strengthening access to information, transparency, stakeholder engagement and public participation.

You can access the final report and our submission here.

Advocating for social work and social protection at UN ESCAP 2026

In April, the IFSW UN Team participated in the 82nd session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), continuing advocacy for stronger social protection systems and recognition of social work’s contribution to regional development. The team highlighted the importance of policies that support people throughout their lives and strengthen the services and networks that communities rely on.

World Social Work Day 2026: strengthening regional collaboration

The IFSW UN Team supported the coordination of the 9th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Social Welfare and Social Work, held in Bangkok on 30 March 2026 as part of World Social Work Day celebrations. The event brought together social workers, academics, policymakers, government representatives, and partners from across the region under the global theme: “Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society.”

Hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security with regional partners, the conference provided a space to discuss social justice, human rights, and the future role of social work in responding to social challenges.

Continuing engagement with the Pact for the Future

In July 2026, IFSW UN Representatives also participated in the UN civil society forum on implementation of the Pact for the Future with Themba Kalua, the Director for Pact for the Future Implementation in the UN Secretary-General’s Executive Office. During the discussion, IFSW UN AP representative Dr Pushkar Sebastian Cordoba spoke and highlighted the importance of urgent action on social protection, stronger accountability, and greater accessibility of UN processes for civil society. The team also raised the need for progress on Action 55 of the Pact and for investment in systems that support people and communities.

Global IFSW Collaboration

In July of this year, IFSW Asia-Pacific Representative to the United Nations Dr. Wilaiporn (Kae) Kotbungkair met with newly elected Global President, Eva Ponce de Leon, to explore opportunities for enhancing social work advocacy within the United Nations system and fostering stronger regional collaboration in promoting human rights, social justice, and sustainable social development.

Developing a new IFSW policy paper on Care and Support Systems

The IFSW Asia Pacific team led the development of the IFSW’s latest policy paper on a social work approach to co-creating human rights-based care and support systems. Dr Pushkar Sebastian Cordoba from the IFSW UN Asia Pacific Team was the principal author and engaged in extensive consultation and collaboration with social workers and stakeholder groups, involving the IFSW global Commissions, the team of the UN Commission and UN Agencies. The policy paper highlights the critical role of social workers, grounded in ethical, eco-social and human rights principles, in promoting and advocating for comprehensive, rights-based care and support systems. It was formally approved at the recent global meeting in Nairobi and you can read it here: https://www.ifsw.org/publications/ifsw-policies/

Looking ahead

The IFSW UN Team will continue its engagement with UN processes throughout 2026, ensuring that social work perspectives remain part of international discussions on human rights, sustainable development, and social protection.

To learn more about the work of the IFSW Commission, please visit this webpage: https://www.ifsw.org/ifsw-commissions/un/