IFSW – Europe
Appointment of Designated Representatives to External Organisations
to DM EDINBURG
04 -06 / SEPT / 2015
NAME : ……… Graça Maria André
TITLE : ..........IFSW E.V. European Representative - Global Human Rights Commission
NOMINATION : ...Dubrovnik DM (April 2009)
PARTICIPATIONS from MAY 2014 to SEPTEMBER 2015
2014 May –Following the earlier steps in view of the reinforcement of a IFSW Europe Region
HR network developed over IFSW EU HR Commission, it was proposed to DM Madrid to
organize and coordinate a Symposium to be held at European Edinburg Conference 2015. The
theme would be Networking and Engagement with Stakeholders“ considering the fields of SW
intervention on HR realization with the participation of several projects which are on the way
(from affiliated countries).
Once this proposal was approved, a mailing list circulated among Delegates for the registration
of interested countries , in order to make further arrangements.
2014 May to 2015 March – The organization of the project candidatures was difficult because
criteria we had to coordinate with Edinburg Conference organization criteria. Four projects
were collected which represented five countries: Armenia; Netherlands/Germany; Spain and
Sweden (see attachment with the projects title and session agenda). Those projects are
examples of good practices in the field SW realizing HR under the general title” Networkiong
and Engagement with Stakeholders in Social Work as Human Rights Realization”. This
presentation will be held in the Conference Program section: Specialist Seminars that will be
held on 9th September (from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm) at Glasgow University in partnership with the
Scottish HR Commission
This task was developed in cooperation with the IFSW E.V. European Representative - Global
Human Rights Commission – Deputy Gonca Polat
2014 September - Study visit to Strasbourg, main European Institutions, by invitation of a
group of international SW teachers who were planning a students’ visit. We visited the
European Court of Human Rights; Human Rights Palace; European Council and European
Parliament.
It was possible to reach documentation and pertinent information concerning HR policies in
Europe and the relevant debates. As well as that, it was possible to elucidate about pertinent
issues and also interchanging with some citizens living on the streets around European
Institutions, in protest actions for some violations of their rights. They did share some
brochures about it
2015 May ... Integration in the Social Platform Team to cooperate with the SPT agenda and in
relation with IFSW EU executive Committee, the latter being a member of the former, to the
divulgation of SWorkers view, strategies and practice priorities
“Social Platform is the largest civil society alliance fighting for social justice and participatory
democracy in Europe consisting of 48 pan European net works of NGO, we campaign to ensure
that EU policies are developed in partnership with the people they affect, respecting
fundamental rights, promoting solidarity and improving lives.”
Other participations (in Portugal) also like IFSW E.V. European Representative - Global
Human Rights Commission with presentations under the general theme “Social Work as a
Human Rights Profession”
2014 June – (Lisbon) Establishment of the Portuguese teachers group of Ethics and HR at SW
High Schools and Universities, integrated in the Portuguese Association of Social Workers
(APSS).
2014 October - (Lisbon) .. Organization of a lecture at the Catholic Univ. with a Social Worker
from Christian Aid (living in London) to share and debate their practices about Stakeholders in
ONG SW intervention realizing HR.
2014 December 10th- ( Lisbon) Organization of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights day
addressed to Students, Teachers and Social Workers, with the participation of a United
Nations delegate to the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee. The theme of the
speech was: HR, United Nations role and Social Work
2015 February ( Torres Novas) Presentation to the local Hospital SW teams about Ethics, HR
and Social Work with the title The seven warnings for Social Work.
2015 May ... (Lisbon) Lecture at a SW University to introduce the theme “SW promoting HR
and the role of IFSW about its realization”
2015 May - ( Lisbon) Participation at the Conference “Human Rights in Europe and austerity
measures”. This Conference was held in cooperation with the European Institute (Law School
of Lisbon), Amnesty International, and Instituto de Direito Económico Financeiro e Fiscal . It
was possible to list the heaviest HR violations, concerning the Portuguese population under
the austerity governmental measures. Those measures were considered not strategic or
successful to citizens’ basic needs accomplishment and their Human Rights realization. Some
proposals were put on the desk showing that citizens are aware about their rights but very
constrained on its realization.
Human Rights Global Commission cooperation after 2015 March
- Statement about Human Rights at the World Social Work Day
- Statement about Mediterranean Migrants Tragedy “They are people too”
- First Steps of cooperation with IFSW E.V. European Representative - Global Human Rights
Commission Latin American Representative, exchanging proposals and support documents.
Further Activities:
To be informed and up-to-date so as to share all the documents at a professional and
academic level (national and international), that come from several external representatives
(IFSW) with special interest on Human Rights issues.
To participate as much as possible in lectures, training courses or professional meetings to
divulge, debate and promote Social Work as a Human Rights profession at the most relevant
contexts.
Further Appointment
I would like to be re-appointed for a further period.
I am really interested in following the leadership of a European reinforcement network at the
IFSW. I would like to help Social Workers to become Human Rights mediators since we have
realized how much it is pertinent over our diary practices and professional interchanges. Also it
was confirmed by the growing interest of each IFSW EU participant and challenged by the last
complex events that are affecting Europe.
Also I feel stimulated for belonging to SPT and the topics on its agenda, with the specific task
on HR issues.
Thank you.
Graça Maria André
gandre@net.sapo.pt
September 2015