Dear IFSW delegates and IFSW Executive Committee
Dialogues about a review of the current joint and global definition of social work has been underway for more than 4 years, and has been discussed at twoconsecutive General Meetings (2008 & 2010) and at several regional and national events. Dialogues, consultations and an internet based questionnaire havefocused on 1) the need for a new global definition of social work and 2) developing concrete proposals for such a new revised global definition of social work.
I hereby forward my report recapturing the actual results of the review until now, and some proposals to proceed. I have to apologize for the late distribution ofthis report, and also that it has not been possible to prepare this report in cooperation with my IFSW co-chair Sâmya Ramos from CFESS - Brazilian National
Board of Social Work.
A new revised definition is needed
What is most clear is that we need a new revised global definition. Social work has over the last ten years developed, new practices and knowledge occur andold remains. The results include re-conceptualized and better documented practices as well as new social work research in most countries. We need as IFSW
(and hopefully also IASSW) politically to recognize this development through a new and updated global definition.
There are now new voices in social work, particularly from the Latin American, Asia-Pacific and African regions, as well as representatives of social workers
in indigenous settings. These new voices articulate different perspectives and approaches to Social Work whilst sharing the global social work principles. There
are new theoretical approaches adding to our common body of knowledge, examples are new social work research on the social determinants of social
cohesion, health and wellbeing, and the need for interpreting traditional social work principles into today diverse realities.
At the African regional meeting in May 2012 the need for a review was frased as “we need to bring in our people and environment into the picture, our landwith floods and displacements, we need African life in the definition”.
In some countries the old definition is implemented at national level, for instance in laws and curricula, and therefore tailormade transition plans are needed
when a new global definition is agreed, respecting such national developments, but this cannot stop the global evolvement of social work.
Regional, national and local transformation and translations
It is also clear that by having a global definition, we need specifically to leave room for possible regional, national and local transformations and translations –recognizing on one hand our common global social work understanding and history, as a global profession, and on the other hand recognize the contextual andcultural diversities, which influence the transformation of social work into a meeting and relationship with local citizens (groups and individuals). This opens
up for a more detailed development and amplification of the definition to fit the local professional and political context. By valuing such regionaltransformations it becomes clearer that the global definition must emphasize the global and general overarching concepts of a definition. At another stage it
might be necessary to stay closer globally and grow together, but for now we can celebrate the development and diversity of social work around the world.
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Draft proposals to be brought together
During the review process a number of draft proposals have been presented, these have during the first half of 2012 been reduced to three draft proposals,
which are all listed here below next to the old definition.
Draft 1
Based on the enormous material collected during the review process until January 2012, the first draft was developed by the IFSW Secretariat and me. Theview was that to make the new definition clear, cohesive and up to date, the best approach was to reshuffle the words and concepts, rather than making thewording more knotty or adding new sentences. This draft was circulated among IFSW representatives and only few comments were received. The draft wasthen “overrun” by draft 2, but draft 1 still stands as an example of how t reshuffle the wording towards a new revised global definition.
Draft 2
Shortly after the presentation of draft 1 a workshop on the global definition took place in Brazil, which was widely attended, by countries from the Latin
America and Caribbean region. IASSW (the schools) was also formally represented at this event.
Through an intensive editorial process involving all present a draft 2 was developed, as a new revised global definition of social work representing Latin
America and Caribbean was agreed by the workshop. Little attention was given to draft 1, but this new definition (draft 2) is brought into the review process
within IFSW as well as IASSW, and participants and global representatives did see this as a major step forward in the process in establishing a collective andunited new global definition of Social Work. Noting that the Latin America and Caribbean region did not support the adoption of the old definition.
The workshop in Rio de Janeiro was organized jointly by CFESS (the Brasilian Board of Social Work) and CRESS-RJ (the regional Board of Social Work for
Rio de Janeiro). Brasil had engaged in a dialogue with other countries and with the IFSW Regional Presidency for Latin America and the Caribbean in order
to organize the workshop, and the workshop gathered more than 80 representatives from practice and universities in the regions of Brasil, Paraguay,
Dominican Republic, Chile, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Argentina, and from the leadership of IFSW and IASSW. For the latter part the following
were present: Nicolai Paulsen (IFSW global Executive member, Chair of the IFSW review team and Regional President for Europe), Laura Acotto (IFSW
global Executive member and Regional President for Latin America and the Caribbean), Rory Truell (IFSW Secretary-General, and representative of the IFSW
President to this meeting), René Schegg (IFSW Policy and Communications officer) and Abye Tasse (IASSW Immediate Past President and representative of
the present IASSW President to this meeting). Apology was received from Gary Bailey (IFSW President).
Draft 3
The third draft was developed by the IASSW co-chair of the review process, Vishanthie Sewpaul (from South Africa).
As IASSW found neither of the IFSW drafts (1 or 2) were easily accessible for their positions, the aim of Vishanthie has been to gather the different drafts andcomments received within IASSW as well as IFSW. In this process she has worked with reference to her IASSW co-chair Jan Agten and also the key material
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tabled within IFSW. Draft 3 stands now as the most recent draft from IASSW (the schools), but is also still being discussed within IASSW, this include arequest to rephrase it in a more coherent language, and secondly see the definition as a high-level definition which needs to be very simple and lesscomprehensive, and easily translated into many different languages.
Short, clear and smooth language (easy to translate)
During the review process the understanding of a definition has been questioned, does it present the occupation, the qualifications, the competences of thesocial work profession and/or the global political conceptualisation of the social work profession?
The attached definitions are characterized by many words, complicated sentences, which are difficult to translate. The key request to the reviewed definition isto keep it short, clear and in smooth language, to which the commentary as well as a local transformations can build upon. A general, high-level and inclusive
approach – focusing on what binds us together globally – means also to avoid defining a long list where a colleague easily will miss one more perspective.
Avoid to risk ending up taking bits and pieces from everybody and attempting to stitch a definition thereby. Such a patchwork is not likely to work very well.
We shall also avoid terms which immediately divide the profession into “camps”.
The aim shall be to strive for a simpler definition so that also the public knows what we stand for and do globally. Recognizing that many terms that we take for
granted as insiders to the profession may just be a jumble of words to outsiders. And if we choose words and ideas that have wide acceptance, it is easier toforge a consensus.
One consideration can be to impose a sentence length limit and also limiting the definition to, say 3 or 4 sentences, as a way of disciplining the continuing workwith the drafts.
Introduction and commentary to be update
The introduction and commentaries must be updated following an agreement about the revised new definition. The commentary shall flesh out the detail andsubstance the concepts and issues included in the definition. There will not be the same limitation to the number of words and sentences, only being aware thatthe sentences shall be easily translated into other languages. The structure of the revised commentary does not need to build upon the present headings, forinstance the clear differentiation between theory and practice is not common today.
Time Frame and Process for the ongoing review process
In March 2012 it was agreed that Samya Rodrigues (President of the Brazilian Association) would join Nicolai as co-chair of the Definition process. The cochair role was created to acknowledge Brazil’s role in pushing the discussions on the need for a new global definition and their on-going energy andcommitment to creating international dialog on this issue.
It was also agreed that a taskforce comprising the five Regional Presidents (or their delegates) from both organizations plus the respective co-chairs.
In the same period it was made clear between IFSW and IASSW that we could not commit to a process of developing a proposed draft definition to be ready inSide 3 af 10

time for Stockholm. In consideration to our members, who have expectations for this issue to be resolved after almost six years of consultation, it was agreed toattempt to complete the process by the end of 2012, being able to present the revised new definition for World Social Work Day 2013.
The review process is proposed as follows:

The review is led by a joint IASSW and IFSW taskforce led by a joint coordinating group of co-chairs.



The IFSW General Meeting in Stockholm discuss/feedback on this rapport, including the three drafts listed here below (aiming at parallel actions at
IASSW meetings in Stockholm).



The IFSW General Meeting does (if proposed and seconded) express its position on
1) The need for a new revised definition
2) A new revised definition must leave room for possible regional, national and local transformations



The IFSW meetings in Stockholm agree a process in cooperation with IASSW for ratifying a new definition at a later stage, presumably at the end of2012 after a consultation round, followed by a postal ballot.



That an informal – and preferable open – meeting/workshop is organised between IFSW and IASSW during the World Conference in Stockholm,bringing the joined review process forward.

The new elected Executive re-appoint a taskforce, who shall refine the draft definitions having received feedback from the General Meeting and anyother agreed process for consultation until a final draft is submitted to both IASSW and IFSW members for ratification.

For this report
Nicolai Paulsen, in the role of co-chair of the IFSW Social Work Definition Project
July 3rd, 2012

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Definitions to be DISCUSSED and FURTHER DEVELOPED to become a new definition …
The “old” global definition
Draft 1 for a new revised global definition
Draft 2 for a new revised global definition
Definition of Social Work
(2000/2001)

A definition for discussion (draft February
2012)
Introduction

International Federation of Social
Workers & International Associationof Schools of Social Work* This international definition of thesocial work profession replaces the
IFSW definition adopted in 1982. It
is understood that social work in the
21st century is dynamic andevolving, and therefore no definition
should be regarded as exhaustive.

Adopted by the IFSW General
Meeting in Montréal, Canada, July
2000
Definition of Social Work Jointly
Agreed by IFSW & IASSW, 27 June
2001 Copenhagen

The DRAFT Definition of Social Work has
been overseen and coordinated by Nicolai
Paulsen who is the IFSW Co-chair of The
Definition Review Process. It is presented
here for discussion and feedback over the
coming weeks. The draft (below) is based on
significant debate and commentary thatstarted at the IFSW General Meeting in 2008
and continued through global, regional andnational meetings. Parallel consultations
occurred within the LA region recently in
Brazil.

Draft 3 for a new revised global definition

A proposal towards the process
defining a global sw definition (March2012)

A new proposal towards the process
defining a global sw definition (June2012)

The following Definition of Social Work
was discussed among the different
Social Work national organizations
from Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Puerto
Rico and Uruguay, with the Latin
American Association for Teaching andResearch in Social Work (ALAIETS),
with the Brazilian Association ofTeaching and Research in Social Work(ABEPSS) and with the individual
contribution of many professionals
from different countries of Latin
America and the Caribbean.

The following Definition of Social Work
was developed by the IASSW (theschools) co-chair of the review process,Vishanthie Sewpaul (South Africa).

This definition will be proposed as the“World Definition of Social Work” tobe adopted by the International
Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
and by the International Association of
Schools of Social Work (IASSW), to be
discussed in the World Assembly in
Stockholm, Sweden, on the 07th and08th of July 2012.
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The aim of Vishanthie has been togather the different drafts andcomments received within IASSW and
IFSW, as she has worked with reference
to her IASSW co-chair Jan Agten andalso the key material tabled within
IFSW.

DEFINITION*

DEFINITION

DEFINITION

DEFINITION

The social work profession promotessocial change, problem solving inhuman relationships and theempowerment and liberation ofpeople to enhance well-being.
Utilising theories of humanbehaviour and social systems, social
work intervenes at the points where
people interact with theirenvironments. Principles of humanrights and social justice arefundamental to social work.

Social work promotes socially just andinclusive systems based on capacity building,human rights, responsible citizenship andfair societies for individuals, families, groups,
communities and beyond. The social work
body of knowledge enables practitioners towork alongside people and communities tosupport their sustainable interdependence.
The profession is guided by theunderstanding that resourced, informedinterdependent people and communities
make the best decisions on their own
wellbeing.

Social Work is a profession that falls
within the realm of relations amongsocial subjects and their relations with
the State in the different
sociohistorical settings of theprofessional activity.

The social work profession, which iscontextually determined, promotessocial transformation, as well as social
stability, harmony, social cohesion andthe empowerment and liberation ofpeople. Principles of social justice,human and people’s rights, collective
responsibilities, participation,
sustainable development,interdependence and respect fordiversities, where doing no harm andrespect for human dignity are overriding principles, are central to social
work. Utilising theories of the broadersocial sciences, praxis and a range ofsocio-psychological-educational
strategies, and indigenous knowledges,
social work engages people andstructures to address life challenges andenhance wellbeing.

COMMENTARY

Explanatory notes

COMMENTS

Comments to be developed

Social work in its various forms
addresses the multiple, complex
transactions between people andtheir environments. Its mission is toenable all people to develop theirfull potential, enrich their lives, andThis 2012 Definition of Social Work takes
into consideration changes within theprofession at both theoretical and global
levels. These are specifically, the growth of
the social work profession in low-income
ountries, new theoretical understanding ofThe construction of a global definitionof Social Work adopts the principle ofunity in diversity. It recognizes that theexistence of Social Work in the world isrelated to the expressions of social
inequality inherent to contemporary

The above definition may be adaptedand amplified at national and/or
regional levels.

It develops a social praxis and a set ofsocioeducational actions that fall uponlife’s material and social reproduction
from the perspective of socialtransformation. It is committed withdemocracy and the fight against social
inequalities, by strengthening
autonomy, participation and thesafeguard of citizenship for theachievement of human rights andsocial justice.

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PLEASE NOTE
If we agree on the above definition weprevent dysfunction. Professionalsocial work is focused on problem
solving and change. As such, social
workers are change agents in society
and in the lives of the individuals,
families and communities they
serve. Social work is an interrelated
system of values, theory andpractice.
VALUES
Social work grew out ofhumanitarian and democratic ideals,
and its values are based on respect
for the equality, worth, and dignityof all people. Since its beginnings
over a century ago, social work
practice has focused on meeting
human needs and developing
human potential. Human rights andsocial justice serve as the motivationand justification for social work
action. In solidarity with those whoare dis-advantaged, the profession
strives to alleviate poverty and toliberate vulnerable and oppressedpeople in order to promote social
inclusion. Social work values areembodied in the profession’s
national and international codes of

the importance of social cohesion tosustainable well-being, and interpreting
traditional social work principles into today
diverse realities.
GROWTH OF THE SOCIAL WORKPROFESSION
Since the last definition in 2002 social work
has grown significantly in Latin American,
Asian and African continents. This shift in the
global profession has produced new voices,
theories and practices for social work.
Latin American social work for example
strongly identifies with community
development and action, and social work
practiced in Africa and Asia often focuses on
self-determination, spirituality,interdependency, addressing the root causesof poverty and social development. Social
workers from these regions have strongly
stated that the 2002 definition did notreflect their social work practice context or
support their aspirations.
Therefore the first sentence of the proposed
2012 definition highlights the common social
work values and principles which social
workers from the above regions, Europe,
Australasia, North America and elsewhere
can identify with. These unique set of values

societies and to the means to fighting
them, which point to: a) democracy
and human rights; b) constitution of apublic scope (social regulations andpolicies); c) international solidarity
systems, social security andprotection; d) social struggles andmovements. These means require
specific professional actions according
to each country/region’ssocioeconomic, political and culturalcharacteristics.

can then begin the commentaries thatwill flesh out the detail and substanceof each of the key concepts and issues
included in the definition.
----------------------------------------------------

I drafted the above taking into
consideration the submission from Latin
America. The addition of “contextually
relevant” is supposed to take care of
the “different socio-historical settings ofthe profession” and Latin America’s
inclusion of social work’s relationship
VALUES
with the State. Social work’s
Professional actions are based onrelationship to the State varies
ethical values and principles such as:according to context, so it is hard to
the safeguard of liberty, equality,
include it in the global definition. Thissocial justice, pluralism, and citizenship can be explained in detail in thefor the purpose of overcomingcommentary.
oppression, hunger, poverty,
I altered the words “socio-educational
unemployment, and social
actions” from the Latin American
discrimination and inequalities.
definition to read: “a range of sociopsychological-educational strategies” as
THEORY
it allows for greater latitude to embrace
Global Social Work is based on social
differences across the world.
theories and specific knowledge inorder to analyze and intervene in
In the commentary we can indicate thatreality for its transformation. Its“social justice” includes “fighting
methodology is based on a collection
against social inequalities”
of theoretical and popular knowledge

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ethics.
THEORY
Social work bases its methodology
on a systematic body of evidencebased knowledge derived fromresearch and practice evaluation,
including local and indigenous
knowledge specific to its context. It
recognises the complexity ofinteractions between human beingsand their environment, and thecapacity of people both to beaffected by and to alter the multiple
influences upon them including biopsychosocial factors. The social work
profession draws on theories ofhuman development and behaviourand social systems to analysecomplex situations and to facilitate
individual, organisational, social andcultural changes.
PRACTICE
Social work addresses the barriers,
inequities and injustices that exist insociety. It responds to crises andemergencies as well as to everyday
personal and social problems. Social
work utilises a variety of skills,

and principles binds social work together
globally.
Social work promotes socially just andinclusive systems based on capacity-building,human rights, responsible citizenship andfair societies for individuals, families, groups,
communities and beyond.
The last sentence of the 2012 definition also
takes into account the diverse cultural andgeographical contexts by recognizing that all
differing family and community systems
provide the best well-being for their people
when adequate resources and information isavailable - and the human rights of all
involved are upheld.
ADDITIONS TO THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
Since 2002 a significant growth in social
theory has occurred which both validates
and advances social work theory andunderstanding. ‘The social determinants ofhealth and wellbeing’ which have beenendorsed by the World Health Organizationand many other global bodies, demonstrates
that people who are socially isolated are lesshappy, have more health problems and die
considerably younger. Such evidence
reinforces the social work position of
supporting people in their environmental

arising from scientific investigation andthe socialization of experiences. It
enables a critical reading of thehistorical process from a viewpoint of
totality, which allows for theunderstanding of how social subjects(individuals, groups, families andcollectives) are part of the social
process, prompting the understandingof their ways of life, work and theirclaims.
PRACTICE
The professional exercise requires
social workers to master the theories
and methodologies at issue, and tohave technical and operational skills.
They must have an ethical stance andspecific training to develop thecompetences and attributions
concerning
Social Work. The objectives ofprofessional practice are: tostrengthen citizenship, the democratic
institutions, and the universal humanrights; to respect international normsof human rights related to diversity ofculture, ethnicity, generation, thought,
gender relations

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Not sure that we can include democracyin the global definition. Might this not
beg the question about what type of
democracy – liberal democracy, social
democracy, participatory democracy,
representative democracy, andconstitutional democracy?
I did not include “citizenship” in thedefinition, as it is a contested concept.
I don’t think we can include“strengthening autonomy” in a global
definition. It might constitute one ofseveral competing objectives and it
might not always be the most valued in
all contexts. Here again we run the riskof accusation of a Western bias.
Especially feminists and non-western
scholars, who emphasise relational
ethics and interdependence, haveheavily critiqued the Kantian view of the“autonomous self”. The use of “social
subjects” might also be contested.
Many argue that it derives frompositivism, where human beings arereconstructed as “subjects”, with theassumption that human beings, like thenatural world can be observed,
controlled and manipulated – and thusby turning them into subjects we turn

techniques, and activities consistent
with its holistic focus on persons andtheir environments. Social work
interventions range from primarily
person-focused psychosocial
processes to involvement in social
policy, planning and development.
These include counselling, clinicalsocial work, group work, social
pedagogical work, and family
treatment and therapy as well as
efforts to help people obtain
services and resources in thecommunity. Interventions also
include agency administration,community organisation andengaging in social and politicalaction to impact social policy andeconomic development. The holistic
focus of social work is universal, but
the priorities of social work practicewill vary from country to country
and from time to time depending on
cultural, historical, and socioeconomic conditions.

context and the development ofinterdependent communities. The proposed
2012 definition therefore states:
The social work body of knowledge enables
practitioners to work alongside people andcommunities to support their sustainableinterdependence.
Other additions to the social work body ofknowledge include the explicit need forusers of social work services to be at theforefront of decision-making, and thatwellbeing involves aligning social, economic
and sustainable strategies.
INTERPRETING OUR PRINCIPLES FOR THESE
TIMES

and identity, and sexual orientation; tosupport social actions for theprotection of socioenvironmental
conditions and the fight against
inequalities, poverty, hunger,
unemployment, and all forms ofviolence and injustice, withredistribution of income and wealth.
For this purpose, social workers must
be critical and propositional, with asound professional training andacademic education, contributing to
the promotion, protection, restitution
and enforceability of human and social
rights and the means of access tothem.

Social work principles have not changed
much since the 1950’s but are appropriatelyinterpreted differently as the profession
meets new challenges. For example manysocial workers have questioned how one
person can empower another, in the same
way that one person can develop another.
Development and self-power need to beclaimed by each person and/or group.
Therefore the 2012 definition stresses thatwhen people and communities are informed
and resourced (i.e. in control of their own
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them into objects of science.
The inclusion of “people’s rights” shouldtake care of the expressed concernsthat the human rights approach has toomuch of an individualistic, Western bias.
It is used in the African Charter,
specifically to embrace the “collective”
rights of people, even though thecharter specifically includes first
generation civil and political rights –generally seen as individual rights.
Respect for human dignity has been
added as it is a core principle of social
work and we can amplify this in thecommentary to reflect its uniquecultural expressions in different
contexts, as so powerfully brought toour notice in the context of Japan. The
use of Ubuntu in the African context
also bears relevance here.
“Doing no harm” can be explained in
the commentary in relation to theenvironment, biodiversity and to people– where all too often there is harm inname of science, profit and cultural
norms and practices.

development and expressing their own
power appropriately) they will be able toprovide the best well-being for their people.
These principles set the primary tasks forsocial workers whether they are working
with individuals, families, groups orcommunities – to support people into
sustainable interdependence and to takepositive control over their own lives toachieve health, happiness and well-being.
CONCLUDING REMARKSThe proposed 2012 definition and the above
three points act as a signpost for the future
and the ongoing development of social work
practice, theory and education. The
definition builds upon the past traditions ofsocial work and recognizes new practicecontexts and contributions. It also takes into
consideration new bodies of knowledge andprovides a unified approach to working withindividuals through to societal levels basedon development, capacity building, rights,
responsibilities and interdependence.
It is recommended that another review ofthe definition is undertaken in 2022 toenable the profession to adapt accordingly.

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