Global Social Work Day : A World of Difference

Tuesday, 27 March 2007, 4:54 pm
Press Release: Aotearoa NZ Association of Social Workers

Global Social Work Day : Making a World of Difference

27 March 2007

The inaugural Global Social Work Day gave social workers in 84 countries around the world a special reason to take pride in their achievements today, under the theme of “Social Work: Making a World of Difference”.

The day (March 27) was declared Global Social Work Day following the 50th birthday celebrations of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) last year. The day will be an annual event and is closely linked to the annual Social Work Day at the United Nations (March 23).

IFSW President David N. Jones said the Day is about giving social work and its engagement at a global level more visibility. “Having a Global Social Work Day is a way to recognise achievements that so often go unrecognised and unacknowledged. It is a big step and in time it will snowball.”

The IFSW statement for Global Social Work Day affirms the role of social work in promoting human rights and social justice, responding not only to individual needs, but also larger social issues.

The theme for the Day highlights that social workers globally are involved with many marginalised and vulnerable individuals and groups who are often not heard, such as those living in poverty, people who are homeless, women, children and older people. Effective social work can enable people to voice their concerns and to work jointly with service users to improve national and international social policies.

Global Social Work Day also focuses attention on the many situations when safety of social workers is at risk, given that social workers have suffered serious injury and death in the line of their work.

A sub-theme for the day in Europe has been to promote a higher sense of worth and professionalism within the individual social worker and a raised sense of community among social workers. An emphasis is being placed on the fact that social workers not only require compassion and dedication but also intellectual and analytical skills and personal commitment. These are demanding qualities in special people.

- IFSW has almost half a million members and has formal consultative status with the United Nations and many other global and regional organisations. ANZASW is affiliated to IFSW.

- In New Zealand a National Social Workers Day is held on the fourth Wednesday in September.

ENDS

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