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On World Social Work Day #WSWD2022 (March 15th) we launched the #SWisHumanRights Campaign to have “Human Rights”, a fundamental principle of Social Work, reinstated to the legally binding professional Code of Ethics and Conduct which governs our profession.

CORU Ireland removed all references to “Human Rights” from the updated Social Work Code in 2019. CORU gave no indication in the 2019 review consultation process that references to #HumanRights were to be removed from the code, nor has any explanation been given for its removal.

The forward to CORU’s original 2011 code states “Social Work is a profession based on principles of Human-Rights and Social Justice” There are 6 further separate references to ‘Human-Rights’ in the 2011 Code, highlighting its fundamental nature to the profession of Social Work.

Social Work is based on the values & principles of #HumanRights & #SocialJustice. The IFSW Global Definition of Social Work, echoed by IASW notes “Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work”.

In a global landscape of increasing inequality, worsening climate crisis, conflict & Covid19 the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission maintain “it is more important than ever that we adhere to clear human rights and equality values in our deliberations and decision-making”.

The removal of ‘Human Rights’ from CORU’s Social Work Code has implications for how we, as Social Workers, individually and collectively, understand, frame and practice our profession, which we understand, at its heart, encompasses a fundamental commitment to ‘Human Rights’.

As Social Workers we aim to work democratically, in partnership and co-operatively, facilitating, advocating, and challenging. We now have a duty to challenge the removal of ‘Human Rights’ from the Code governing our profession, and a responsibility to ensure it is reinstated.

We ask all Social Workers and our allies to please support this campaign. CORU Ireland needs to heed the collective concern we feel about this “Social Work bereft of the commitment to human rights is like a footballer who is no longer able to run and kick the ball”(Garrett, 2021).

Our first ask of you is to please sign this petition https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/reinstate-human-rights-into-the-coru-social-work-code-of-professional-conduct-ethics.

Our second ask is to please make some noise! Tweet about the campaign using the hashtag #SWisHumanRights. Write to CORU Ireland at info@coru.ie asking that references to #HumanRights from the 2011 code be reinstated. Opposition to its removal is an important stance for social workers to take.

Our third (and final for now!) ask of you is to sign up to our mailing list for updates on the campaign and to get involved. Let us know if you have any suggestions for campaign actions. Just email SWs4Change@gmail.com Follow our Twitter account @SWs4Change too and say hello!

Social Work as a profession in Ireland is regulated by CORU Ireland. Social workers must adhere to a legally binding code of ethics and conduct. The current version can be found here: https://shrtco.de/UCp1I2.

The current version of CORU’s social work code of ethics and conduct was launched in 2019. It replaced the previous version of the code which was launched in 2011. The original version of the code can be found here: https://shrtco.de/DRD2M3.

Social workers in Ireland adhere to the (https://www.ifsw.org/what-is-social-work/global-definition-of-social-work/).