Press Statement – For Immediate Release
Berne, 20th July 2012
New global guidance for social workers on the identification and protection of children from all forms of sexual abuse will be developed urgently following a decision by social workers from around the world meeting in Stockholm, Sweden on 7-8 July 2012.
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) biannual General Meeting agreed to a proposal from the British Association of Social Workers that guiding principles for social workers concerning their responsibility to identify and protect children from all forms of sexual abuse should be developed urgently.
‘Every sector of society in all corners of the world includes significant numbers of children who are sexually abused’ said Dr Rory Truell, IFSW Secretary-General. ‘The majority of such children go unrecognised as they are too frightened to reveal what is happening to them. IFSW will now urgently develop guiding principles concerning social workers’ responsibility to work with others to identify and protect children from all forms of sexual abuse. IFSW will also work with national member organisations to launch a global campaign asserting the right of all children to have access to a safe place where they can disclose concerns about the way they are being treated and be assured that support will be forthcoming.
‘Social workers are already working effectively with children who have been abused as a result of sexual maltreatment and other forms of abuse’, said Dr Truell. ‘These new principles will provide a consistent global baseline for social work practice across the world, emphasising the importance of close working with the police and other professions and alerting all social workers to the factors which need to be considered when making assessments of the needs of abuse children.’
For further information see: www.ifsw.org
For additional information contact IFSW Policy and Communications Officer: René Schegg ,
Tel. +41 22 548 36 25