The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development started in 2010 when 3000 social work representatives and social development professionals came together to set the priorities for the profession until 2020. This significantly successful period of the Global Agenda has been an essential voice in proactively setting and fulfilling the Sustainable Developmental Goals, working towards more peaceful and just societies and strengthening the voice of the social work profession.
Now, the social work profession needs to examine new themes and processes to expand the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development for the years 2020 to 2030. From IFSW, we are launching a consultation process, where your input is essential to build a robust and inclusive Global Agenda that meets the real needs of all people. The consultation period will end in July 2020.
Please make your contributions to the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development 2020 – 2030 by filling in the comments box at the bottom of this page.
To see the reports of the Global Agenda from 2010 to 2018 please visit the IFSW Bookstore where you can download the reports for free. Below is a video message from the IFSW President Silvana Martinez and Secretary-General Rory Truell providing some examples of the success of the Global Agenda and inviting all people interested in the development of social work to participate in the consultation process. The video is subtitled in both Spanish and English.
Comments Section
Please leave any comments on your proposed Global Agenda themes for 2020 to 2030 and any suggestions for how to integrate the themes across the decade which also allows the Global Agenda process to effectively respond to any unforeseen social issues that may arise.
Hello, I am a social work student residing in Canada. I would suggest that climate change and environmental issues be a large theme in future planning. Given all of the information available surrounding climate change and how it is going to increasingly impact society, I think we need to start discussing how we as social workers will handle the repercussions of this. Be that increased immigration,refugee’s, housing concerns, emergency responses, etc. Issues concerning our environment should be of interest to all social workers globally as it directly impacts all people we are working with.
Hello,
I am a social work student from Canada, currently living and working in Calgary, Alberta. If the IFSW intends to proactively fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs_ and build an inclusive Global Agenda that meets the needs of all people, it is imperative increased efforts be made in Canada to mitigate inequalities and disparities experienced at disproportionate rates among Indigenous peoples’. Looking at the SDGs, many of these goals are quite far from being met particularly in rural and northern communities in Canada. Social workers in many ways have played a detrimental role in the past and present that has contributed to the inequalities and oppression faced by Canadas Indigenous populations. Therefore, it is time the IFSW prioritize fulfilling the SDGs among Canadian communities still experiencing a lack of access to clean drinking water, quality and accessible Indigenous centred education, health disparities and access to healthy, affordable, traditional foods. The SDGs are recognized as urgent calls to action and the lack of urgency for implementing these goals in rural and northern Canadian communities is unacceptable.
Thank you,
Erin
Although some countries have come a very long way, basic human rights, are rights that should be inherent to all human beings, no matter their race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, among other pronounced statuses. As a social work student in Canada, I recognize that inherent dignity and equity must continue to move to a place where individuals no longer have to fear. This is something that should be a requirement within educational systems in learning how to treat individuals with the upmost respect, displaying positive, social behavior. Allowing younger populations to gain comfort and confidence within the area of human rights, may lead to a lesser chance of victimization, criminalization, and injustice toward particular individuals or groups in the future. Human rights should not be looked at as a choice, but rather as one’s right.
As a social work student who is passionate about social justice, more work on how we can advocate for better policy can be done. Being a frontline worker is crucial in our profession, but we must also try to pressure policy makers to form legislations that ensure that those that are vulnerable are protected.
Hello,
I am a social work student from Nova Scotia, Canada. My passion and goal within this field is to work with the (dis)Ability community. I think it would be great, especially in more rural communities, to create more initiates that would improve accessibility on a greater scale. Accessibility is one of the biggest barriers for people with (dis)Ability and its not just about being able to physically access a space, it is about being safe and welcomed in the places that we go. Accessibility is also a great global initiative as it is a issue that exists world-wide. A better understanding of (dis)Ability is a good place to start in order to break down the privilege that exists within the able-bodied community and open their eyes to the possibility of change. It is important that the (dis)Ability community has allies in the able-bodied community as well.
Thanks for all your comments, they are very insightful, and many comments show commonality on significant issues that affect the practicing of social work worldwide. I am currently a social work student in Canada. My focus is on the rate of domestic violence in Canada. Statistics Canada, 2017 reported domestic violence rate 79% female victims, 30% by intimate partners ( 33% by a person the victim knew but not a partner and 26% by a stranger). The alarming cases are violence against seniors, which rose to 7% as of 2017. In Canada, an average of 172 homicides is committed every year by a family member.
There is a need for proper education on the impact of domestic violence worldwide and how this can be mitigated against. Immigrants into various countries should be aware of the laws governing parenting and raising a healthy family, knowing that, in any circumstances, the law supersedes cultural beliefs. Knowledge of the impact of domestic violence and how to avoid them can reduce violence globally.
Thanks,
Bukky, Dalhousie University BSW
I think that as Social Workers we need to mend relations between the practice and communities that were (and still are today) unfairly targeted as being incapable of taking care of themselves. In Canada, for instance, social workers have a troubling legacy of government-sanctioned child-extraction. During the “60s scoop” practitioners would routinely take indigenous children away from their families and communities. The negative effects of this act are still seen today and the children in care of our child welfare system are still largely indigenous. Mending relations must be a collaborative endeavor between governments, agencies, and indigenous communities; it must include a recognition of indigenous rights and a commitment to being culturally safe. There are many who have been recently judged unfairly or historically marginalized, and social workers should recognize that with this inequality comes privilege and power. We must work hard to uphold social justice and acknowledge wrongs from the past.