Social Workers and Social Work Educators as Agents and Teachers of Peace
International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)
Promote social work education and engage international social work community
Peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is a state of well-being, a quest toward harmonious living, and engaging in positive, health-promoting relationships.
It is a common goal for us all to avoid and prevent war and resolve conflict constructively. Yet, in recent times, we have seen war wreaking havoc on millions of people, all over the world.
Any war, unresolved conflict, or tension will eventually take its toll on the citizens. One of the greatest dis-welfare of the human condition is war, and the people in Ukraine know what it means.
Since the invasion of Russian forces, many killed, and 10 million people have been displaced, ?in Ukraine.
The refugee crisis has worsened and social workers are speaking up and responding to the crisis.
IASSW, as with other international social work bodies, speaks out against war, violence, and discrimination. IASSW statement against violence is periodically updated.
It is the mission of social work to enhance social well-being. In this new epoch of human civilization, we will see the profession of social work imbued with the expanded role to bring peace and social justice, and sowing seeds of compassion and caring in the restructured world.
Any conflict presents an opportunity for change and increased positive communications through dedicated work on differences. Social work, based on principles of respect and acceptance, offers a way to manage and resolve conflict through the commitment to mutual understanding, celebrating and learning from difference, to a ?'commitment not to harm, but also to nurture, all individuals and society'.
Peace is necessarily inclusive, embracing diversity and differences. ?Peace is a commitment, never to use violence to solve problems but through constructive participation to work out common solutions and rebuild for the better.
A key outcome of the recent People’s summit, supported by IASSW, along with IFSW as well as ICSW, and like-minded organizations, is the People’s Charter for an Eco-Social World. This was shaped by “diverse voices from across the globe,’ people representing diversity seek to co-build a more sustainable and just world. The global summit came up with the people’s charter and derived a statement on peace“ (IASSW, 2022).
Clause 9, of the Charter addresses the co-building of peace: “People do not want war and violence in their lives. Preventing war and violence is facilitated through the development of trust and mutual respect for diversity. This is achieved by working with and in families, communities and countries until everyone is confident enough to understand their own and others’ rights, responsibilities, resources, challenges, and strengths.” https://www.iassw-aiets.org/featured/10009-the-peoples-charter-for-an-eco-social-world/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=latest_news_from_iassw&utm_term=2022-07-06#_ftn1
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IASSW's task Force for Peace in Israel and Palestine works towards a grounds-up initiative for social development and hopefully constructive and peaceful engagement. The task force's role is to listen to the grounds and to structure processes forward, owned by the people who are committed to bringing about peace and progress. With the commitment toward change for the better, greater participation and ownership of the process could only work towards constructing the common good.
Peace and social development are twins, both sides of the same coin. The World Social Work Day (WSWD) 2022 celebrated by IASSW, and our partners, affirmed the building of a fairer and sustainable social eco world leaving no one behind. From Bangkok, New York and Geneva, to China, Bangladesh and Malaysia, social workers has demonstrated solidarity and the values enshrined in Ubuntu, ‘I am because we are (IASSW, 2022) showing great resolve for connections and unity of purpose. Social workers and educators championed peace, advocated and taught community-based efforts to manage tensions, harnessing towards development.
IASSW's recent online forum on Peace and Social also affirmed the need to work towards decolonisation, against oppression and denouncing the invasion of powerful forces over those who are in the minority, powerless and marginalized groups. Social work stands with the disenfranchised and voiceless to be the beacon of light in this dark world.
Peace, and the accompanying social development, should be the prized commodity for humankind and yet it eludes many on this earth. Social workers cannot stand by and watch but must truly be active agents of peace and social change, and necessarily then, agents of peace.
?Professor TAN, Ngoh Tiong
Treasurer IASSW, 2018-2022
Chair, Global Institute of Social Work
Published: 5 September 2022 by?SAGE Publications in International Social Work
International Social Work , Volume 65, pp 1049-1050; https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728221124472