Peace and Social Justice
Social workers have consistently advocated for a just and peaceful world. Social justice is central to the profession’s values and specifically emphasized in the NASW Code of Ethics as social work professionals are instructed to “promote policies that safeguard the rights of and confirm equity and social justice for all people.” Social workers are similarly encouraged to learn other languages, become informed about all aspects of other cultures, and apply the profession’s values to work with clients of all races, ethnicities and sexual orientations. Key aspects of promoting peace and social justice, and topics of concern to NASW, are the prevention of human trafficking, poverty alleviation, and prevention of torture. See below and here for further information and resources.
Social Work Promotes Peace and Social Justice
- NASW Policy Statement on Peace and Social Justice
- NASW Specialty Practice Section – Social and Economic Justice and Peace – Professional development hub for social workers committed fairness, equity, and equality.
- NASW Peace Policy Toolkit – Collection of communication pieces advocating for peace and promoting human rights.
- NASW Recognition of the International Day of Peace – to reaffirm the commitment to addressing structural and cultural sources of violence that negatively impact our communities.
- International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Statement on Peace and Social Justice
Prevention of Human Trafficking
- NASW Practice Update on Human Trafficking – provides a background on human trafficking and issues for social workers to take into consideration when assisting a potential victim of trafficking.
- Human Trafficking: Snaring the Spirit NASW News Article
- Global Anti-Trafficking Efforts:
- U.S. Agencies Combating Human Trafficking:
- U.S. Department of State – The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons is on a mission to eradicate modern-day slavery by funding programs and initiatives designed to help victims and assist law-enforcement efforts worldwide.
- 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report – This report, for the first time, ranks the U.S. in its efforts against trafficking based on the same standards we hold other countries.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Campaign to Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking
- U.S.-based organizations fighting trafficking – Humantrafficking.org provides a list by state of U.S. NGOs participating in anti-trafficking efforts and supporting victims of trafficking.
Prevention of Torture
- NASW Anti-Torture Statements:
- NASW Statement to Oppose Torture in Any Form
- NASW Support for Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice
- Guantanamo-related Advocacy
- UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture – dedicated to torture survivors and provides a call for action to eliminate torture practices worldwide.
- National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs - A network of programs which exists to advance the knowledge, technical capacities and resources devoted to the care of torture survivors living in the U.S. and acts collectively to prevent torture worldwide.
Poverty Alleviation
- ONE Campaign - NASW is a member of the ONE Campaign. ONE is a grassroots campaign and advocacy organization backed by more than 2 million people who are committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Cofounded by Bono and other campaigners, ONE is nonpartisan and works closely with African policy makers and activists.
- NASW Articles on joining the One Campaign
- Millennium Development Goal #1 - United Nations target to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015.