NEWSLETTER
Nov-Dec 2023

LAUNCH OF GLOBAL AGENDA THEME 4: “BUEN VIVIR: SHARED
FUTURE FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE

The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social
Welfare (ICSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) are delighted to launch thetheme for the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development 2024: “Buen Vivir: Shared Future
for Transformative Change“. The theme will also be presented at the 2024 World Conference on Social
Work and Social Development in Panama.
This resonates with the contemporary challenges and aspirations of social work around the globe. Ourworld faces multifaceted crises, ranging from violent conflicts, environmental degradation, topersisting poverty and political disparities. Against this backdrop, social work must evolve and adopt
innovative, transformative approaches that are community-led and steeped in indigenous wisdom.
Central to this transformative change is the principle of “Buen Vivir”, emphasizing that true well-being
is achievable when communities live harmoniously with nature, striving collectively for balanceddevelopment.
This indigenous philosophy underscores the significance of interconnectivity, reciprocity,
correspondence, and complementarity in human relationships and our bond with nature. Our goal isto champion this principle, fostering an eco-social world that thrives on inclusion, respect, mutual
understanding, and the upholding of human rights.
Read more on our website here.

IASSW’s statement on Peace

Women Interest group and Human Rights & Social Justice Committee Appeal for Peace
IASSW is expresing a deep concern and condolences to all people who are suffering current armed conflicts
in different parts of the world and who suffer displacement, deaths and disability.
IASSW condemns violence, whether perpetrated by states waging war on neighbours with total disregard
for the civilians that become trapped in the crossfire of warring groups, by the so-called lone wolf orindividual that goes on a murderous rampage, or by groups who claim to defend their people and commit
atrocities in their name without ever consulting them.
Currently, there are 32 major armed conflicts disturbing the peace of the world. Key amongst these which
are destroying the lives of ordinary civilians who simply want to raise their families in peace and security,
are Russia’s Aggressive Assault Against Ukraine, the decades long cycle of vengeance and countervengeance perpetrated in Israel and in the occupied Palestine, and neighbouring countries dragged into
what has become constant war, the Sudan in which war has opened up arenas for infectious diseases
including cholera to spread. 100.000 people from Nagorni Karabah fled their homes in fear for their lives.
Then there are internal civil wars in countries where civilians demand freedom and peace – Iran, Syria,
Afghanistan. These a just a few of these peace-destroying situations. Then there are internal civil wars incountries where civilians demand freedom and peace – Iran, Syria, Afghanistan. These a just a few of thesepeace-destroying situations. They must all stop, and they must stop now. The waste of lives, destruction ofresources and betrayal of our beautiful planet that nurtures us all must stop now. People withdisagreements and grudges against their neighbours must sit down at the peace table and dialogue.
IASSW has dedicated educators, communicators, and practitioners skilled in bringing people andcommunities together, mediating conflict and providing trauma support. Many would be more thanwilling to offer their services to get to advance peace making initiatives.
Read the full statement here.

IASSW & Power Us Series

The IASSW and Power Us series have completed the annual cycle with 11 sessions. These power-packed
webinar sessions are a great resource for all social work students and practioners. These webinars
highlight the theme “Critical Perspectives on Service User Participation and Experiential Knowledge”.
The full series can be viewed on our “resources”.
The previous two sessions highlighted:
Experiential Knowledge as a means to develop sustainable care from a service user perspective.
Speakers – Malin Widerlov & Mattias Widerlov, SocialKraft/School of social work, Lund University
The Challenges and Opportunities for Co-Producing the Social Work Curriculam. Speakers – Ianand Sandra Atkinson, Helen Casey and Hameed Khand, The open University (UK) - In this session,
the speakers will be talking about the importance of engaging people with lived experiences of social
work support and services in social work education, the challenges and benefits.

IASSW Reaching out!

Symposium of #TrabajoSocialClinico
International: Analysis and Reflections
from Global Contexts
Symposium of #TrabajoSocialClinico International: Analysis
and Reflections from Global Contexts was celebrated. Mrs.
Annamaria Campanini. President International Association of
Schools of Social Work (IASSW); D. Rodrigo Raúl Ignacio
Morales Jimenez, Lecturer at the Spanish Institute of ClinicalSocial Work ;D. Alexis Soriano Bustos Villarroel, Social Worker,
Narrative Therapist, Researcher and Trauma & Family Lecturer;D. Enrique Raya Lozano. Associate Researcher of SEPISE,
Research Group on Social Work and Ms. Eva Marie Juan Toset.
Dean of the Official College of Social Work of Granada
conducted an approximation to International Social Work:
Proposals and Challenges of the Profession.
People attended the symposium online and in-person. Special
thanks to Mrs. Annamaria Campanini for an enriching day filledwith reflections on social work on the international level.

IASSW partner presentation at the CSWE APM
Atlanta
Shirley Gatenio-Gabel, Lynne
Healy, and Barbara Shankpresented on the Global Agenda,
IASSW at the UN, Social Work Day
at the UN, the World Congress
Panama 2024, and the importanceof IASSW-AIETS membership. A
booth to disseminate information
about IASSW was also set up,staffed by Carlotta Mozzone andBarbara Shank, IASSW Secretary.

IASSW Reaching out!

"Inclusion social: perspectiva desde asociación de escuelas de trabajo social"
The IASSW President was invited as a keynote to deliver aspeech on "Inclusion Social: Perspectiva Desde Asociación deEscuelas de Trabajo social" at the II Congreso Internacional deBuenas Prácticas en Inclusión, organised by our member"Uned-Madrid". During the speech it was underlined theinclusive character of IASSW, in the composition of the board,in different activities (the politics of languages, the student
membership, the publications, the international projects, theGlobal standards). A special emphasis was given to theagreement signed with Power Us and the organisation ofwebinar to present the importance of the service users
inclusion in the education and research.

Winter school at ISCTE Lisbon,
Iassw-aiets President Annamaria Campaninidelivered a speech on 'Social emergency andhumanitarian action: How IASSW can contribute?".
It was also an important occasion to have a meetingwith ICSW and IFSW presidents, to discuss thecooperation between the three sisters organisations(Iassw-aiets, IFSW International Federation of Social
Workers & ICSW) and the future conferences.

Conference on Social Work Innovation: Theory andPractice in the New Development StageOn 24-25 November 2023 at Peking University, Beijing, China took place a
Conference on Social Work Innovation: Theory and Practice in the New
Development Stage. Prof. Annamaria Campanini (President, Iassw-aiets )presented a welcome speech and chaired one Plenary Session on Social Work andInnovation in Social Development and Technology and one parallel session onInnovation and social work education.