World Social Work Day Statement by Rory Truell, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Social Workers:
On this World Social Work Day in 2024, I am honored to address the international social work community under the theme of Buen Vivir.
Firstly, I want to mention that our thoughts go to the social workers, their families and communities that are working in situations of war and violence. We acknowledge that your role in advancing peace at the civil society level is critical to your own communities and beyond. On behalf of the international profession, I send you our solidarity and our wishes for your safety.
Happy World Social Day everyone!
It is widely acknowledged that at the heart of social work is the experience and knowledge that partnerships between peoples based on respectful relationships, restoring dignity and co-working, are fundamental to securing peace, and building belonging and confidence for all involved. We can be proud of this beating heart which grows stronger each year as more and more peoples and cultures become a part of this gracious profession.
Buen Vivir, much like the 2021 global theme Ubuntu, resonates deeply with the principles of social work which emphasize the interconnectivity across diverse relationships in which there are many skills and resources. Buen Vivir, rooted in indigenous philosophies from Latin America, additionally invites us to expand our understanding of relationships to include not just people, but also as humans our connections and partnerships with ecosystems, the land, animals, oceans, rivers, the sky and the Earth. The invitation is to all people to enter these relationships more intentionaly, fulfilling our role as a part and partners of nature.
This theme was selected deliberately by the social work profession, as we contribute, along with millions of others, to transform the unsustainable modern linier cultures of growth and exploitation, with inclusivity, fairness, peace and sustainability.
Buen Vivir teaches us that cyclic reciprocity of relationships is not just between people but with our natural environments. It guides us to the wonders and importance of our responsibility to care for the world leading to a deeper experience of belonging and living honorably.
Many would say this is a key to diverting the world from the dehumanising behaviors that we read about in the news headlines every day, including harm and abuse to people either as individuals or communities. These are evident in the work of every social worker in every country.
Tragically at the geopolitical level we witness politicians and their militaries fueling extremism and acting as if the ‘others’ have no right to exist. In response we use our social work knowledge to work with people to change this dehumanizing behavior. An approach built on our observations, understandings and experiences of the daily life of people in any community. We see them sharing the same everyday loves and concerns. We hear of worries or joys in how their children are doing, if they can afford the rent, what the next months will bring. We notice their love of freshly baked bread and their appreciation of softness of the new season’s flowers. As social practitioners our role is to support people as they restore humanizing behaviors which we know is one of the most important pathways for achieving lasting peace.
So, on this occasion of World Social Work Day we celebrate our profession and its role of co-working with communities. We thank social workers worldwide for all your dedication to people and environments. We send our thoughts to our colleagues working in extreme situations.
And as we absorb and reflect upon Buen Vivir, we can be confident that we are continuing to grow and thrive and contribute positively, just as nature had always intended.