• Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin
  • Home
  • About IFSW
  • Journals
  • Join
  • Contact
  • Member login

International Federation of Social Workers

Global Online conference

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin

Translate:

International Federation of Social Workers

  • Social Work Action
    • What is Social Work?
    • Climate Justice Program
    • IFSW and Covid-19
    • The Global Agenda
    • World Social Work Day
  • Regions
    • IFSW Africa
    • IFSW Asia and Pacific
    • IFSW Europe
    • IFSW Latin America and Caribbean
    • IFSW North America
  • Commissions
    • Education Commission
    • Ethics Commission
    • Indigenous Commission
    • United Nations Commission
  • Publications
    • Policies
    • Journals
    • Books
    • End of Year Reports
    • Information Hub
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Archive: General Meeting 2024
      • Login / Account
      • Documentation
      • Online Participation
    • Archive: General Meeting 2022
      • Login / Account
      • Documentation
    • Archive: 2020 Conference
      • Welcome
      • Keynote Speakers
      • Login / Account
      • Programme
      • Global Agenda
      • Contact
  • Shop
  • (0)

Update concerning detention of Munther Amira 15th January 2018

Information Type: NewsTopic: Human Rights, IFSW

January 16, 2018

On behalf of more than 7500 social workers from all over the world who have signed the petition calling for the immediate release of Munther Amira, the IFSW Human Rights Commissioner Nigel Hall and IFSW Main Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Priska Fleischlin, have sent letters to relevant agencies at the United Nations. The letters request these agencies to take forward our concerns regarding our social work colleague and urge them to use their respected offices to support this global movement of social workers trying to secure Munther’s release.

These agencies are:

  • UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory, Mr. S. Michael Lynk
  • UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mr. Michel Forst
  • UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

The letter to these agencies is reproduced below:

Dear …….

Re: Concerns about detention of Palestinian Social Worker

We would be very pleased if you could take forward our concerns regarding one of our social work colleagues on behalf of the Human Rights Commission of the International Federation of Social Workers.

The IFSW Human Rights Commission calls for the immediate release of Munther Amira, a Palestinian Social Worker who was arrested on the 27thDecember while peacefully protesting to defend the rights of children who had been detained by the Israeli authorities. Mr. Amira has previously served as the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Union of Social Workers & Psychologists (PUSWP).

Mr. Amira was standing up for basic social work principles and was conducting his protest in a peaceful and non-violent way and should not have been arrested for his basic democratic right to free speech and to campaign for human rights concerns.

The Israeli military court on 9th January has now extended his detention until Tuesday 16th January, after the military prosecution halted the court’s decision to release him. A member of Mr Amira’s defence committee has noted that the Israeli military prosecution is preparing a list of further indictments against him.

The IFSW Human Rights Commission upholds that social workers are human rights defenders who stand up for peace, human rights and social justice. We support Mr. Amira’s commitment to upholding the ethical principles of our profession and demand his immediate release.

As part of our campaign for Mr. Amira’s release there is a currently circulating petition calling his release which will be delivered to the Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Minister of Public Security Mr. Gilad Erdan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mr. Michel Forst, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory Mr. S. Michael Lynk. This petition has now garnered more than 7500 signatures.

The role of social work in situations of conflict is focused on building peace and reconciliation. Social workers are involved in mediation and conciliation, and work to build sustainable and inclusive communities and this is what our colleague was attempting to do. We urge you to use your respected office to support this global movement of social workers trying to secure Mr Amira’s release.

If you wish to discuss this further it may be possible for a meeting to be arranged with a member of our Geneva team who represents IFSW at the United Nations.

Yours sincerely

Nigel Hall, IFSW Human Rights Commissioner

Priska Fleischlin, IFSW Main Representative, United Nations Geneva

 

Return to Information Hub

Region: Asia and PacificLanguage: English

Primary Sidebar

Key documents

  • Global Definition of Social Work
  • Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles 
  • The Role of Social Work in Social Protection Systems
  • The People’s Charter for a New-Eco Social World

Footer

Copyright © 2025 International Federation of Social Workers · Registered Address: Maiengässli 4, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland · Registered charity number: CHE-109.240.290

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
MENU
  • Home
  • General Meeting 2024
    • Login / Account
    • Documentation
    • Online Participation
  • About IFSW
    • Governance
    • Secretariat
    • What we do
    • Our members
    • Partners
    • General Meetings
    • Executive Meetings
    • Elections
    • Executive committee area
      • Meeting papers 2018
    • Archives
    • Member login
  • Join
  • What is Social Work?
    • Global Definition of Social Work
    • Meet Social Workers from around the world
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Find your region
    • IFSW Africa
    • IFSW Asia and Pacific
    • IFSW Europe
    • IFSW Latin America and Caribbean
    • IFSW North America
  • Commissions
    • Education Commission
    • Ethics Commission
    • Indigenous Commission
    • United Nations Commission
  • Information Hub
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Archive: 2020 Conference
      • Programme
      • Welcome
      • Keynote Speakers
      • Login / Account
      • Global Agenda
      • Contact
    • Archive: European DM 2020
      • Home
      • Login / Account
    • Archive: European DM 2021
  • Social Work Action
    • The Global Agenda
    • World Social Work Day
  • Shop
  • Contact