Berne, 08.11.2011
To President Schmitt
To Prime Minister Orban
Dear Sirs
Re: Social inclusion, social justice and social work intervention:
Dumpster diving, poverty and social work action
The IFSW Human Rights Commission is writing to express our deep concern at reports from our colleagues in your country about recent developments in respect of a social worker, Norbert Ferencz (Pumukli), sentenced on 4th November 2011, to three years Probation for working with people to alleviate poverty.
We understand that he was taking part in a demonstration about the introduction of the ‘misdemeanour’ of dumpster diving or what in other cultures is seen as recycling from other people’s waste. Our experience as social workers from across the world is that is that this type of offence often leads to the fuelling of civil unrest rather than a strategic policy to enhance social inclusion.
We are writing to ask if you would consider a review of the case of Norbert Ferencz and a review of the policy which has led our colleagues in Hungary, in line with our international ethical statement, to take action to help achieve social justice. I attach for your information a copy of our Ethical Statement and an explanation about the role of the IFSW Human Rights Commission
Yours sincerely
Ruth Stark
Convenor, IFSW Human Rights Commission