Report to International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW):
Human Rights and Social Justice Committee July 2022
Disparity, challenges and concerns about human rights and social justice are a global concern.
All countries and citizens continue to face challenges. There are huge gaps between intention
and action. Among the global challenges for human rights and social justice, but not exclusive
to, are:• The continuing challenges faced by people across the globe continues because of the
impact of COVID-19, and the effect of the pandemic on global, regional and national
economies and the experiences of people. There is clear evidence of the significant
disparity of support and resources between those with wealth and those with low income
and/or living in poverty. Concern has continued to be expressed that the pandemic hashindered the ability to meet the 2030 Agenda/Sustainable Development Goals.
• The impact of climate crisis: it is imperative that environmental and human rights agendas
become holistically integrated. There is a concern to deepen collective action byaddressing the root causes of insecurity, increasing investment in resilience and early
warning systems, developing multilateral partnerships, and more sustained efforts inpeacebuilding and fighting the effects of climate change (Michelle Bachelet, UN HumanRights Commissioner and Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General 11.12.2021). State
leaders must place people at the centre of government strategies in confronting the climatecrisis.
• Human rights violations and situations of concern across the globe: This includes war, theimpact of war, the oppression of groups and citizens and the significant displacement ofcitizens. Examples include Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and, more recently, Ukraine.
• Technology and the digital divide that has been further exposed in the COVID 19pandemic. This results in economic and social inequality; inequality between individuals,
household, communities, business and geographical areas.
• Progress for women’s rights/ gender equality continues to be slow, with evidence of no
progress or moved in the wrong direction in some countries. Examples include, the Covid19 pandemic, for example, in violence against women; the overwhelming rollback on
women’s rights in Afghanistan, the widespread sexual violence characterizing the conflictin Ethiopia, attacks on abortion access in the US and Turkey’s withdrawal from thelandmark Istanbul Convention on Gender Based Violence: each is a grave erosion of rights
in its own terms
As the Human Rights and Social Justice Committee aims states (see Appendix Two): The
IASSW recognises all social work educators and researcher’s commitment to education,
learning and research that highlights social workers unique contribution and situates social
work education and research as imperative in highlighting, evidencing and challenging theviolation of human right and centrality of social justice.
The (Updated) Global Standards for social work education 2020 promote Human Rights andSocial Justice and provide unifying themes. The imperative continues to be how these themes
are embedded in social work education in specific national contexts. This includes how todevelop, support and train social work students and support post qualifying training of social
workers to address complex social issues through human rights and social justice exposure,engagement, and lens, especially in preparing for a post-pandemic world.
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The overall focus of the Human Rights and Social Justice (HRSJ) Committee, and proposed
actions in moving forward during 2022-2023 is outlined in Appendix One.
The HRSJ Committee continues to endeavour to meet its aims (see Appendix Two).
The Membership of the HRSJ Committee is outlined in Appendix Three.
Janet Walker; Annaline Keet; Shirley Gatenio Gabel; Jessica Jönsson; Chaitali Das
July 2022

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Appendix One
Workplan for HRSJ Committee 2022-2023
Actions
How achieved
Comments
THE HRSJ Committee facilitated a Workshop A draft update of the procedures + guidance has been This will be presented to the IASSW Executive(10.01.2022) for IFSW Board members in a forwarded to the IASSW Chair and Vice Chair.
Board Meeting in July.
renewed dialogue to discuss and reflect on its
position on Issue Based Advocacy. Based on thefeedback from the Workshop, the HRSJ has
reviewed the current approach to the IASSW rolein issues-based advocacy and the appropriate
representation of IASSW’s position in relation torequests. This has included:• Section 10. Procedures for Taking Stands onIssues (page 13) in IASSW Manual of Policyand Procedures• Writeguidance
notestosupport
discussion/decision about issuesStrengthen the Committees understanding of Work with Regional Associations of Schools of Social Work to A proposed semi-structured questionnaire willteaching and learning within a human rights and gain a greater understanding of teaching and learning of be used to support this and allow for local,social justice framework in schools of social work human rights and social justice, priorities, and actions in regional and global positions to emerge.
across the globe
schools of social work.
A specific issue of the Social Dialogue magazine To support the workplan of the HRSJ Committee and its This should allow for greater visibility andto be focussed on HRSJ
outcome a dedicated edition of the Magazine is in progress.
representation of HRSJ.
Work with colleagues representing the IASSW in Meeting of Chair of HRSJ Committee Chair, President of the This should allow for improved liaison andthe United Nations
IASSW and UN IASSW Representative to meet on a regular action on behalf of IASSW.
basis to support developments any actions.
Coordinate with the International Research Research Project Committee and HRSJ Committee to liaise.
Correspondence from the HRSJ Committee toProjects Committee to adopt Human Rights inResearch Project Committee to be actioned.
different contexts and with different target groups
as a theme in the next bidding.

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Actions
How achieved
Comments
A proposal by the HRSJ Committee for a Panel The panel theme is: Comparing human rights and social justice The Panel will take place during theat the CSWE (USA) Conference 2022 has been in social work curricula across countries
Conference 10-13 November 2022.
accepted.
HRSJ Website to be reviewed
The website content to be reviewed
This will ensure it is relevant andcontemporary, reflective of the work andactions of the HRSJ Committee.
Synergy of the work with Regional Associations Invite Vice Chairs as representatives of Regional Associations Regional Chairs/Vice Chairs of IASSW areof Schools of Social Work
to discuss with their committee members their approach and invited to action this proposed action andresponse to increasing dialogue in relation to human rights and feedback to the HRSJ Group.
social justice and social work education and research.

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Appendix Two
IASSW Human Rights and Social Justice Committee Aims
The focus of the Human Rights and Social Justice Committee (HRSJ) is on supportingeducation, learning and teaching and social work research in all aspects of human rights
and social justice. This is intended to recognise the interrelationship for social work ofhuman right and social justice and actions that are required to promote rights,responsibilities and justice for citizens, communities and countries. Further there is aconcern for human right violations on social workers and social work educators andcampaigning that support and promote human rights and social justice.
••

•

•

The HRSJ Committee recognises all social work educators and researcher’s commitment
to education, learning and research that highlights social workers unique contribution andsituates social work education and research as imperative in highlighting, evidencing andchallenging the violation of human right and centrality of social justice. This includes
emphasising the contribution to and for social work, situating social work education andlearning and research as highlighting and seeking to represent and address at a micro andmacro levels of practice.
The HRSJ Committee situates the voices of citizens, service users and carers and social
workers as being peacemakers through dialogue, including knowledge and skills, forexample, in communication, conflict resolutions, negotiation, mediation. the HRSJ
Committee acknowledge the continuing impact of violation of human rights and concern
for social justice across the globe, including issues, including the impact political instability
and oppression; the impact of war and internal conflicts; targeting of minority groups andparticular groups, for example the rise of islamophobia; and nations of people; historicalissues of abuse; and natural, environmental and manmade disaster.
Social workers and social work service are also well placed to stand in solidarity with thediverse Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities against racism and intolerance
cross the globe, recognising that racism and social injustice is deep-rooted and that weneed to work collectively to stand with those who seek to challenge and change
oppression. On-going action is critical to challenge, support and demonstrate solidarityand positive action. A particular feature of efforts in universities has been in relation todecolonising the curriculum.
The HRSJ Committee seeks to work in collaboration with wider organisations andstructures that address and/or comment on human rights and issues of social justice.

5Appendix ThreeHRSJ Committee Members (from December 2021)
NameJanet Walker
Anneline Keet
Shirley Gatenio Gabel
Jessica Jönsson
Chaitali Das

Institution
University of Lincoln,
England.
Nelson Mandela University,
South Africa
Fordham University,
New York, USAŐrebro University,
SwedenFrankfurt University of Applied Sciences,
Germany

6CommentsChair
Vice Chair