International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)UN Asia Pacific Representatives
Written Statement for the Committee on Social Development, Seventh
Session
August 2022
I. Information about the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the IFSW UNCommission
The IFSW is a non-governmental organization that has been granted Special Consultative
Status by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
As the global professional body for social work the International Federation of Social
Workers (IFSW) acts as an inclusive and democratic facilitator of global standards, policies
and along with the International Association of Schools of Social Work the profession’s
ethical principles. Each of the Federation’s 143 country members both contribute to theformulation of these standards and are also bound by them, resulting globally sharedvalues, and standards that bind the profession together. Consequently, today there areover 3 million social work practitioners that share the values of human rights, selfdetermination and social justice.
The IFSW’s United Nations Commission supports IFSW representatives and IFSW members
to act as facilitators and bridging the gaps between community’s aspirations and UN
agendas. In 2019, the IFSW established a regional commissioner and representatives for theAsia Pacific to work with United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and thePacific (ESCAP) in relation to regional and global issues to strengthen the partnership
between IFSW and ESCAP.
Please find more detailed information on the IFSW website.
II. Introduction
We welcome the opportunity to make a written statement to the Committee on SocialDevelopment, 7th Session 2022. Our submission will focus on Agenda Item (1) theimportance of renewing the social contract and building a resilient workforce to better
respond to ongoing and emerging global trends and based on the IFSW’s 2022 position

1statement “The Role of Social Workers In Advancing A New Eco-Social World” and The
People’s Charter for an Eco-Social World from the recent global People’s Global Summit.

III. Call for considerations
Our submission will focus on two parts: first the need for a renewed eco-social contract,
and the role of social workers as a vital workforce in achieving the UN’s objectives.
Renewing the social contract: IFSW Position
We commend the UN ESCAP for its commitment to renewing the social contract andbuilding a resilient workforce to better respond to the current issues we face. The world
needs new policies, social contracts, and practices that foster relationships and partnershipsthat build security and confidence for all people and the sustainability of the planet. The
social work profession is an important stakeholder and partner for global action, including
the Sustainable Development Goals and other local, regional and global development
strategies.
The region is facing unparalleled levels of social and environmental crises; climate change,
pandemics, persistent inequality, lack of consensus internationally at the geo-political level,and increased conflict. These crises are intertwined and have profound effects on people
and their communities through the dramatic increase in the economic, social, emotional,and ecological challenges.
These interconnected crises serve as a call for transformative action towards a new world
with new eco-social contracts, beyond traditional understandings of social contracts. Thisvision to restore balance in our world is driven by collaboration, sustainability, leaving no
one behind, based on the dignity and respect of every person and the planet. The
recognition of the interconnectedness of all life in our ecosystem is integral in the guiding
ethics of social workers. Only through co-building a new eco-social world can we ensure asustainable and fairer world for all of us and future generations.
An eco-social approach to a social contract requires key actions and commitments from
Member States in relation to the 5 (equally considered) dimensions ofsustainability: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.
•People: In line with the central premise of the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goals, “leaving no one behind” must be at the core of all governments

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decisions that ensure human rights for all. IFSW recognizes that in order for rights tobe realized, it takes all of us to ensure dignity and respect.
•Planet: An eco-social approach recognizes that humans are part of the ecosystem,and that human and environmental wellbeing are interrelated. Climate action mustprioritize listening to and working with First Nations peoples all over the world andrecognize the equal foundation knowledge from indigenous wisdom as central toachieving an eco-social world.

•Prosperity An eco-social understanding of prosperity must critically examine societal
and economic structures, practices, and ways of life. The IFSW promotes
transforming global economies towards a sustainable, inclusive and fair approach,driven by a change in understanding of prosperity from purely economic growth
towards sustainable social and environmental wellbeing. National social protection
systems in line with ILO recommendation 202 are fundamentally important for thepeople we work with.

•Peace: An eco-social approach requires new bottom-up approaches that recognizethat national and individual interests are secondary to global fairness, peace andsustainability. IFSW views an eco-social world that respects cultural diversity andidentity in the context of global citizenship and reciprocal respect, creating afoundation for sustainable peace.

•Partnership: The SDGs call for “a spirit of strengthened global solidarity”. For socialworkers, partnership starts with respecting difference and diversity, centered inequity, and by listening and understanding each other. As stated in the The People’s
Charter for an Eco-Social World, this can only be achieved through co-developing
reciprocity and joint ownership of positive change, co-building peace, co-living withnature, co-creating social justice and co-realising equality.

Recommendation: A renewed social contract from Member States must be grounded in an
eco-social approach and recognise the interconnected dimensions of sustainability.

The role of the social workers in responding to ongoing and emerging global trends
Social workers are key partners in addressing the most pressing global issues, including theCOVID-19 pandemic, inequality and climate crisis. Social work is a practice-based profession

3and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion,and the empowerment and liberation of people—with principles of respect for humanbeings' inherent worth and dignity, doing no harm, respect for diversity, and upholding
human rights and social justice.
Advocating and upholding human rights and social justice is the motivation and justification
for social work. The social work profession recognizes that human rights need to coexist
alongside collective responsibility. According to the IFSW’s Social Work Global Agenda,
social workers have created their own approach in a participatory manner from the bottomup or community and people-driven, including the knowledge and needs of people (leave noone behind). IFSW understand that the 5P’s contain values that the people and communities
and people we work with mostly want. The majority of the word suffers from the richness ofa few people.
Social workers across the Asia Pacific region are actively working with their communities tosupport and be part of the development process at micro, mezzo, and macro levels towardachieving SDGs and an eco-social world.

Recommendation: The UN and Member States system shall increase collaboration withsocial workers as through applying the profession’s principles and approaches we cancollectively achieve climate action and social justice.

IV. Conclusion
IFSW’s Asia Pacific Representatives to the United Nations welcome the opportunity to makethis submission and look forward to working collaboratively with the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and Committee on Social Development towards
improving the wellbeing of all peoples.
For any queries related to this submission please contact:

Dr. Sebastian Cordoba (Australia)
IFSW Asia Pacific United Nations Representatives
pushkar.cordoba@rmit.edu.au4

IFSW Asia Pacific United Nations Representatives
Dr. Wilaiporn Kotbungkair (Thailand)
Topics: World Social Work Day, Disabilities
Dr. Sebastian Cordoba (Australia)
Topic SDGs, Climate Action
Judith Douglas (New Zealand)
Topic: Social Justice, Family and Child Protection
Hamed Omalee (Iran)Topic Refugee/ Migration, Children
Dr. Suresh Pathare (India)
Topic: Rural Development, Climate Change
Mr Kim Sug Pyo (South Korea)
Topic: Ageing5