PRESS RELEASE - 24rd March 2012 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Launch of Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development: Commitments to Action.
Three global organizations join forces to make an impact on social development. The three internationalsocial work, education and social development bodies have committed to working together with theUnited Nations to address the crucial problems perpetuating poverty, inequality and unsustainablehuman environments.
The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the International Association of Schools of Social
Work (IASSW), and the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW), the three largest global socialwork, education and social development organizations will be presenting the Global Agenda of Social
Work and Social Development: Commitments to Action (the Agenda) on United Nations Social Work Day,
26th March at the UN offices in New York, Geneva, Santiago de Chile, Nairobi, and Bangkok.
At the UN headquarters in New York, Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) will formally accept the document on behalf of the whole of the United Nations. At
this event the heads of UN member-state missions will also receive the Agenda on behalf of theircountries in front of an audience of more than 600 NGO representatives, social workers, educators andsocial development practitioners.
The Global Agenda document commits the organizations to address the root courses of oppression andinequality, to ensuring that people have power over their own lives, and to dedicate themselves to lead amovement that will create a more social just and fair world.
Background Information:
Download: The Agenda for Social Work and Social Development: Commitments to Action.
The three organizations were founded in 1928 and have all consistently held consultative status with theUnited Nations since the 1950s.
The International Federation of Social Workers is the global federation of national social workorganizations in 90 countries representing over 750,000 social workers.
The International Association of Schools of Social Work is an international community of schools andeducators in social work, promoting quality education, training and research in the theory and practice ofsocial work, administration of social services and formulation of social policies. IASSW speaks on behalf of
2,000 schools of social work and 500,000 students.
The International Council on Social Welfare is a global, non-governmental organization which represents
tens of thousands of organizations around the world that are actively involved in programmes to promotesocial welfare, social development and social justice.

For further information contact:

International:

NY Based Teams:

Dr Rory Truell Secretary-General

Janice Wood Wetzel, Main Representative

International Federation of Social Workers
Work

International Association of Schools of Social

global@ifsw.org

janicewetzel@gmail.com

Dr Abye Tasse, Chair for the Global Agenda
International Association of Schools of Social Work

Michael Cronin, Main Representative

abyetasse@yahoo.fr

International Federation of Social Workers

Denys Correll, Executive Officer

mcronin@monmouth.edu

International Council on Social Welfare
dcorrell@icsw.org