1The Role of Social Workers in Advancing a New Eco-Social World
1. Concern
The world is facing unparalleled levels of social and environmental crises; climate change,pandemics, persistent inequality, lack of consensus internationally at the geo-political level, andincreased conflict. These crises are intertwined and have profound effects on people and theircommunities through the dramatic increase in the economic, social, emotional, and ecologicalchallenges.
The environment has been threatened through the exploitation and degradation of the planet,peoples, and cultures that were foundational to colonialismi, compounded by neoliberal
economic policies embedded in state practices and the conditionalities attached to loans ofinternational financial institutions. These policies have contributed to environmental degradation,
increased social and economic inequality, reduced rights for workers, minimal formal social
protection systems, increased migration, human trafficking, and the violation of humanrights. We are in dire need of a transformation of the political and economic systems fromextractive and exploitative to inclusive and sustainable policies and practices at global and local
levels that can halt environmental destruction and create wellbeing for all people.
The last five years having been the hottest on record posing an existential threat to the planet,humanity, and human rights. Environmental degradation puts us at additional risk of pandemics
such as Covid-19ii. Covid-19 has created great distress across the globe, but for the mostmarginalized it has laid bare entrenched inequalities at social, health and economic levels.
Reductions in social protections, healthcare, and education have a gendered impact in thatwomen and girls carry the care burden that is no longer shared with the state; this has beenmagnified globally through the COVID-19 pandemiciii. There is increased vulnerability to poverty
and hunger due to livelihood strategies interrupted by COVID-19, conflict, and climate changeiv.
Further, global inequality is reflected in access to vaccines; of more than 10 billion doses givenout globally, only 1% have been administered in low-income countriesv. Delayed access tovaccines prevents governments from reopening their economies, compounded by inequitabledebt service costs that prevent countries from investing in recovery and tackling the worsening
impact of the climate crisis which they did not create.
Climate change increases food insecurity as the global food production system contributes toclimate change, accounting for more than a third of greenhouse gas emissionsvi, with limitedaccess to healthy food seen in diet-related health issues, including stunting and wasting.vii The
uneven and unfair recoveryviii is eroding global solidarity. Climate change is a ‘crisis multiplier’that can lead to, or exacerbate, conflict as it affects food security, natural resources, andmigration patternsix. Conflict also results in complex humanitarian emergencies, internallydisplaced people, refugees, poverty, hunger, and famine.
These interconnected crises serve as a call for transformative action towards a new world withnew eco-social contracts. This vision 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 theplanet. The recognition of the interconnectedness of all life in our ecosystem is integral in theguiding ethics of social workers. Only through co-building a new eco-social world can weensure a sustainable and fairer world for all of us and future generations.

2This paper affirms to:a) Expand on the 1996 IFSW Human Rights Policy and the 2014 Globalization and theEnvironment Policyb) Articulates and supports the development of the IFSW’s position on co-building a new ecosocial world grounded in a holistic human rights frameworkc) Call to action for governments and key stakeholders to assure a more sustainable and justworld.

2. Context
As the global mass movement to address the urgent need to co-design and co-build a new ecosocial world grows, so does the engagement of social workers globally. The profession has along history of social action and advocacy, with the context of community and systems
engagement reflective of the diversity of our profession together in our communities. The
growing crisis of climate change, pandemics, environmental destruction, conflict and global
inequality (including lack of social protection systems) diminish human and environmental rightsthat find social workers with a critical role in this global movement to address these inequities.
Through building relationships and partnerships between civil society, global bodies,governments, and United Nations agenciesx, we contribute to and help co-build a new ecosocial world movement.

3. Promoting a Holistic Rights Framework
It is time to extend the existing UN Human Rights Declaration to a Holistic Rights Framework toencompass social human rights, cultural rights, ecosystem rights, and the broader rights ofnature to ensure that the global crises of climate change, pandemics, and conflict are addressed
and that a new eco-social world can flourish. This recognizes that in 2021 United Nations (UN)
Human Rights Council Resolution of the Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable
Environmentxi and the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection ofhuman rights in the context of climate change honor the nexus of human rights and theenvironment.
Human rights and environmental issues are inextricably connected. Climate change is eroding
the rights to health, life, culture, housing, food, water and sanitation, self-determination,
development, peace and security, a standard of living adequate for health and well-being, andcultural rights.

In the 1996 IFSW Human Rights Policy states;
Human Rights condenses into two words the struggle for dignity and fundamental
freedoms which allow the full development of human potential. Civil and political rights
have to be accompanied by economic, social and cultural rights.
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A Holistic Rights Framework recognizes individual human rights, (dignity andfundamental freedoms), social human rights, (civil, economic, and political), cultural rights, ecosystem rights, and the broader rights of nature. Within this framework are driving values andprinciples: Recognizing the importance of diversity, sustainability, self-determination, and that allpeople are responsible to protect and advance the rights of others as well as nature. The aim of
the framework is to establish a consensus that balances all rights through participatory
engagement in inclusive policies and practices for our shared futures.

The Role of Social Workers
Social workers have an important role working with these complex yet interconnected issues on
local, national, and global levels. Social workers utilize holistic and ecological approaches thatare driven by knowledge and professional ethics and values with a commitment to engaging andsupporting diverse communities through practice that honors the importance of reciprocal
relationships with communities to advance human rights, economic, environmental, and social
justice.
The social work profession engages across micro-mezzo-and macro levels of policy andpractice to co-build partnerships that create change and promote opportunities that support andbuild sustainable development and eco-social practice, committed to building a new eco-socialworld in which all rights are ensured and no one is left behind. Social workers are working
within communities and governments, co-designing and co-building social and environmental
protection, leading to capacity-building, and policy-development to combat complex andintersecting crises.

4. IFSW Policy Statement on Co-building a New Eco-Social World
The world needs new policies, social contracts, and practices that foster relationships andpartnerships that 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 (SDGs) xii and other local, regional and global development
strategies.
An eco-social approach requires key actions in relation to the 5 (equally considered) dimensionsof sustainability: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership xiii as outlined by theUnited Nations. These are expanded by IFSW where indicated:
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 decisions thatensure human rights for all. IFSW recognizes that in order for rights to be realized, ittakes all of us to ensure dignity and respect.
Planet: An eco-social approach recognizes that humans are part of the ecosystem, andthat human and environmental wellbeing are interrelated. Climate action must prioritize
listening to and working with First Nations peoples all over the world. IFSW and partners
to the Global Definition of Social Work, recognize the equal foundation knowledge fromindigenous wisdom as central to achieving 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
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global economies towards a more sustainable, inclusive and fair approach, driven by achange in understanding of prosperity from purely economic growth towards sustainablesocial and environmental wellbeing.
Peace: An eco-social approach requires new bottom-up approaches that recognize thatnational and individual interests are secondary to global fairness, peace andsustainability. IFSW views an eco-social world that respects cultural diversity and identity
in the context of global citizenship and reciprocal respect, creating a foundation forsustainable peace.
Partnership: The SDGs call for “a spirit of strengthened global solidarity”.
For social workers, partnership starts with respecting difference and diversity, centeredin equity, and by listening and understanding each other. IFSW promotes the sharing ofknowledge and insights, of working in collaboration, that is centered in equity that leads
to agreed solutions and joint actions for sustainable shared futures.

5. Impact of this Policy Paper
IFSW will work towards:
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The co-design and co-building of urgent global action to implement the 5 dimensions ofsustainability: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.
Engaging governments and other key stakeholders to recognize social workers as key
partners in this global action, with the role of engaging and working with communities asagents of change.
Integrating the principles of a new eco-social world into social work education.
Transforming social protection systems from reactive to preventative systems to support
communities prior to natural disasters, environmental degradation, and pandemics sothey are better equipped to withstand these events.
Address current and historical injustices that impact people as barriers to theirinvolvement in co-designing and co-building our shared futures,
Building partnerships and allyship to work with local communities to collaboratively
identify the necessary steps for a just and sustainable world.
Visionary leadership by national associations that create policy and direct practice ecosocial initiatives rooted in the holistic human rights framework.
Eradicating poverty through creating sustainable economies and environmental andsocial systems that leave no one behind.

6. Review
According to the IFSW policy paper on policy statements, reviews of such papers shall takeplace no later than six years after their adoption. For the policy paper at hand, the review will be
due in the year 2028. It is also recognized that the New Eco-Social world movement isexpanding rapidly and therefore this policy should be updated in accordance with thismovement.

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