BASW joins call from IFSW for transformational and sustainable social protection in Europe

Today, on World Social Work Day 2018 (#WSWD18), the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) stands with the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), in its statement that social workers are ready to be part in the process of designing the strategy in the social field and to increase the awareness that social services are an important pillar of the future investment in the social dimension of Europe.

We want to raise awareness that social protection systems need to be included in future financial schemes and programs and social workers must advocate to create an understanding regarding the link between the economic development and social protection as well as to show the complex cycle of social vulnerability and the need for support.

World Social Work Day is the key day in the year that social workers worldwide stand together to celebrate the achievements of the profession and take this message into their communities, workplaces and to their governments to raise awareness of the social work contributions and need for further action.

This year, BASW is highlighting ‘Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability’, which relates to the third pillar of the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development.

We join the IFSW in calling on the European Parliament and the European Council to strengthen the Pillar in the following ways:

1. Jobs are not enough. New forms of poverty have emerged and employment and work are no longer a guarantee for protection against poverty. Working Poor are the fastest growing segment of the impoverished population with devastating effects on the next generation. Too little attention is paid to promoting social policies and investment in social services that focus on lowering the vulnerability and contributing to resilience.

2. Investment in social services is the foundation for sustainable economic development. Social workers have been consistent advocates that confident and engaged communities with good social structures are an essential foundation for sustainable economic development. As people become empowered they become engaged in economic activity and this leads to increased social and economic outcomes. Social protection helps to stabilize economic development as it has been demonstrated that for every $1 spent on social protection yields a $3 return to the economy (IFSW, “Role of Social Work in Social Protection Systems: The Universal Right to Social Protection”).

3. Social Workers involvement is a condition for a sustainable social protection in Europe. Social workers focus is to get the right social services to support people find sustainable answers to social problems. A society cannot progress economically when an important part of the country lives in social exclusion. Without social workers and without their skills a country cannot progress in term of social inclusion.