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Assignment

Topic Name: Human Rights and Social Work

Subject: Human Rights
Submitted to: Miss Iqra Afzal
(Lecturer)
Submitted by:
Name: Rabia Shahid
Roll no: 1721134031
Semester: IV
Session: ( 2017-21)

Department of Social Work

Govt. Post Graduate Islamia College (w)Cooper Road, Lahore.
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CONTENTS

SR
TOPICS
NO

01 Definition of Human Rights & Social Work

02 What are Human Right…?

03 What is Social Work…?

04 History of Human Rights

05 Violations of Human Rights

06 History of Social Work

07 Principles of Social Work

08 Role of Social Worker

09 Fields of Social Work

10 Reference
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Definitions of Human Rights:

“Human rights are the moral rights which all men, everywhere, at all
times ought to have and something which no one may be deprived of without grave
affront to justice, something which is owed to every human being simply because
he is human” (Cranston, 1973)
OR
“Human rights are those rights which are inherent in all human nature and without
which they cannot live as human beings. Human rights and fundamental freedoms
allow them to fully develop and use their human qualities, intelligence, talents, and
conscience and to satisfy their spiritual and other needs” (United Nations, 1987)

Definitions of Social Work:

“The NASW (1973) defines social work as "The professional activity of

helping individuals, families, groups or communities to enhance or restore their
capacity for social functioning or creating societal conditions favorable to that
goal.”
OR
“Social Work is any service or activity designed to promote the welfare of
the community and the individual, as through counseling services, health
clinics, recreation halls and playgrounds, or aid for the needy, the aged, the
physically handicapped, etc.”
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What are Human Rights?

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the
world, from birth until death. They apply regardless of where you are from, what
you believe or how you choose to live your life.
They can never be taken away, although they can sometimes be restricted – for
example if a person breaks the law, or in the interests of national security.
These basic rights are based on shared values like dignity, fairness, equality,
respect and independence. These values are defined and protected by law. In
Britain our human rights are protected by the Human Rights Act 1998.

What is Social Work?

Social work is a profession concerned with helping individuals, families,
groups and communities to enhance their individual and collective well-being. It
aims to help people develop their skills and their ability to use their own resources
and those of the community to resolve problems. Social work is concerned with
individual and personal problems but also with broader social issues such as
poverty, unemployment and domestic violence.
Human rights and social justice are the philosophical underpinnings of social work
practice. The uniqueness of social work practice is in the blend of some particular
values, knowledge and skills, including the use of relationship as the basis of all
interventions and respect for the client’s choice and involvement.
In a socio-political-economic context which increasingly generates insecurity and
social tensions, social workers play an important and essential role.

History of Human Rights:

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The history of human rights is that of the struggle against exploitation of one
person by another. It is based on the recognition of basic rights founded on the
concept of the inherent dignity and worth of every individual.
The recognition was consolidated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by
the General Assembly of the United Nations. Its preamble asserted “recognition of
the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the
human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”.
The basic instruments concerning human rights are:
Charter of the United Nations (1945)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
The Covenants on Human Rights (1966)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(1965)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(1979)
Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (1984)
Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers
and Members of their Families (1990)
These global instruments are reinforced by:
The European Convention on Human Rights (1950)
The American Convention on Human Rights (1969)
The African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples Rights (1981)
The covenants and conventions are supported by UN Declarations:
The Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons (1971)
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The Protection of Women and Children in Armed Conflicts (1974)

The Elimination of All forms of Religious Intolerance (1981)
The Right to Development (1986)
Violations of human rights:
Despite these agreements, gross and subtle violations of human rights are
perpetrated every day against thousands of people. The phenomenon of the
“disappeared”, the torture of political prisoners, summary killings and arbitrary
arrests, the increasing use of the death penalty, the extortion of confessions by
physical and mental abuse, the manipulation of and the intellectual, emotional and
moral pressures imposed on individuals in an attempt to condition their
personalities, the detention of prisoners without trial, the economic exploitation of
adults and children, displacement of populations due to internal conflicts – these
and other violations are all too evident throughout the world. The victims of human
rights abuses continue to suffer for many years as a result of their experience.
Many factors contribute to the violations of human rights. The collapse of
totalitarian regimes in Eastern Europe did not bring an end to the human rights
abuses. The resurgence of nationalism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in countries
with established democracies, as well as in the former Eastern bloc, posed new
challenges to the United Nations. In Africa, the rise of tribalism undermined the
integrity of nations and led to widespread abuse of the most basic rights to life. In
more than one region of the world, there has been a disturbing re-emergence of
genocide in situations of armed conflict.
History of Social Work:
As a profession, social work officially originated in the 19th century
as a movement primarily experienced within the United States and United
Kingdom. After the demise of feudalism, those in poverty were seen as a direct
threat to the social order, so the government formed the Poor Law and created an
organized system to provide care to them. While the Industrial Revolution sparked
great leaps in technological and scientific advancements, the great migrations to
urban areas throughout the Western world led to increased social problems and in
turn social activism. During this time, rescue societies were initiated to provide
support to resolve the problems of poverty, disease, prostitution, mental illness,
and other afflictions.
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Principles Social work:

Human Rights condenses into two words the struggle for dignity and
fundamental freedoms which allow the full development of human potential. Civil
and political rights have to be accompanied by economic, social and cultural rights.
Social workers serve human development through adherence to the following basic
principles:
Every human being has a unique value, which justifies moral consideration for that
person.
Each individual has the right to self-fulfillment to the extent that it does not
encroach upon the same right of others, and has an obligation to contribute to the
well-being of society.
Each society, regardless of its form, should function to provide the maximum
benefit for all of its members.
Social workers have a commitment to principles of social justice.
Social workers have the responsibility to devote objective and disciplined
knowledge and skill to work with individuals, groups, communities, and societies
in their development and resolution of personal-societal conflicts and their
consequences.
Social workers are expected to provide the best possible assistance without unfair
discrimination on the basis of both gender, age, disability, race, colour, language,
religious or political beliefs, property, sexual orientation, status or social class.
Social workers respect the basic human rights of individuals and groups as
expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other
international conventions derived from that Declaration.
Social workers pay regard to the principles of privacy, confidentiality and
responsible use of information in their professional work. Social workers respect
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justified confidentiality even when their country’s legislation is in conflict with this
demand.
Social workers are expected to work with their clients, working for the best
interests of the clients but paying due regard to the interests of others involved.
Clients are encouraged to participate as much as possible, and should be informed
of the risks and likely benefits of proposed courses of action.
Social workers generally expect clients to take responsibility for determining
courses of action affecting their lives. Compulsion which might be necessary to
solve one party’s problems at the expense of the interests of others involved should
take place after careful explicit evaluation of the claims of the conflicting parties.
Social workers should minimize the use of legal compulsion.
Social workers make ethically justified decisions, and stand by them, paying due
regard to The Ethics of Social Work – Principles and Standards adopted by the
International Federation of Social Workers.
These principles, drawn from the experience of social workers in carrying out their
responsibility to help people with individual and social problems, place a special
responsibility on the social work profession to advance the cause of human rights
throughout the world.
Role of social workers:
Social workers deal with common human needs. They work to prevent or alleviate
individual, group and community problems, and to improve the quality of life for
all people. In doing so, they seek to uphold the rights of the individuals or groups
with whom they are working.
The value base of social work with its emphasis on the unique worth of each
individual has much in common with human rights theory. Social workers
frequently operate in situations of conflict, and are required by their national codes
of Ethics and in the international Ethical Principles and Standards to demonstrate
respect for all regardless of their previous conduct. Their experience of the impact
of social conditions on the capacity of individuals and communities to resolve
difficulties means that they recognize that the full realization of civil and political
rights is inseparable from the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.
Policies of economic and social development have, therefore, a crucial part to play
in securing the extension of human rights.
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As a result of their particular role and responsibility in society, social workers are
often the conscience of the community. Therefore, the value system, training and
experience of social workers requires that they take professional responsibility for
promoting human rights. Social workers need to work with other professions and
non-governmental organizations in action on human rights issues. As advocates for
change, they are often in the forefront of movements for change and thus are
themselves subject to repression and abuse. The IFSW Human Rights Commission
was established in 1988 to support social workers under threat for pursuing their
professional responsibilities.
Policy statement:
Human rights are those fundamental entitlements that are considered to be
necessary for developing each personality to the fullest. Violations of human rights
are any arbitrary and selective actions that interfere with the full exercise of these
fundamental entitlements.
The social work profession, through historical and empirical evidence, is
convinced that the achievement of human rights for all people is a fundamental
prerequisite for a caring world and the survival of the human race. It is only
through the recognition and implementation of the basic concept of the inherent
dignity and worth of each person that a secure and stable world can be achieved.
Consequently, social workers believe that the attainment of basic human rights
requires positive action by individuals, communities, nations and international
groups, as well as a clear duty not to inhibit those rights.
The social work profession accepts its share of responsibility for working to
oppose and eliminate all violations of human rights. Social workers must exercise
this responsibility in their practice with individuals, groups and communities, in
their roles as agency or organizational representatives and as citizens of a nation
and the world.
IFSW, representing the social work profession internationally, proclaims the
following human rights as a common standard and guide for the work of all
professional social workers:
Life:
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The value of life is central to human rights work. Social workers have not only to
resist violations of human rights which threaten or diminish the quality of life, but
also actively to promote life enhancing and nurturing activities.
Physical and psychological well-being is an important aspect of the quality of life.
The deterioration of the environment and the non-existence of curtailment of health
programs threaten life.
Social workers assert the right of individuals and communities to have protection
from preventable disease and disability.
Freedom and liberty:
All human beings are born free. The fundamental freedoms include the right to
liberty, to freedom from slavery, to freedom from arbitrary arrest, torture, cruel
inhuman or degrading treatment, and freedom of thought and speech.
Next to life itself, freedom and liberty are the most precious human values
asserting the worth of human existence.
Equality and Non-Discrimination:
The fundamental principle of equality is closely linked to principles of justice.
Every person regardless of birth, gender, age, disability, race, colour, language,
religious or political beliefs, property, sexual orientation, status or social class has
a right to equal treatment and protection under the law.
Social workers have to ensure equal access to public services and social welfare
provision in accordance with the resources of national and local governments, and
have a particular responsibility to combat discrimination of any kind in their own
practice.

Justice:
Every person has a right to protection against arbitrary arrest or interference with
privacy, and to equal protection under the law. Where laws have been violated,
every person has a right to a prompt and fair trial by an objective judicial authority.
Those convicted are entitled to humane treatment whose purpose is to secure the
reform and social preadaptation of the individual.
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The impartial operation of the law is a crucial safeguard for the citizen in the
administration of justice. Social justice, however, requires more than a legal
system untainted by interference by the executive. It requires the satisfaction of
basic human needs and the equitable distribution of resources. It requires universal
access to health care and education, thus enabling the achievement of human
potential. It underpins concepts of social development. In the pursuit of social
justice workers may have to face conflict with powerful elite groups in any given
society.

Solidarity:
Every person whose fundamental freedoms are infringed has a right to support
from fellow citizens. The concept of solidarity recognizes the fraternity ideal of the
French Revolution, and the importance of mutual support. Social workers give
expression to this through the Human Rights Commission in relation to social
workers whose political freedoms are infringed. In their daily practice they express
solidarity with the poor and oppressed. Poverty, hunger, and homelessness are
violations of human rights. Social workers stand with the disadvantaged in
campaigning for social justice.
Social Responsibility:
Social responsibility is the recognition that each of us has a responsibility to
family, to community, to nation and to the world community to contribute personal
talents, energy and commitment to the advancement of human rights. Those with
intellectual and physical resources should utilize them to assist those less well
equipped. Social work’s engagement with the disadvantaged is a reflection of that
responsibility. No person or collective body has the right to engage in any activity,
including propaganda, to incite war, hostility, hatred, bigotry or violence, contrary
to the institution and maintenance of human rights.
Peace and Non-Violence:
Peace is more than the absence of organized conflict. It is the goal of achieving
harmony with self and with others. Social workers are committed to the pursuit of
non-violence. Their experience in conflict resolution teaches that mediation and
arbitration are effective instruments to overcome seemingly irreconcilable
differences. Non-violence does not mean passivity in the face of injustice. Social
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workers will resist and exercise non-violent pressure for change, but will not
engage in acts of violence in the course of their professional activity. Social
workers devote its energies to constructive efforts to achieve social justice.
The Environment:
Humankind has trusteeship responsibility for the care of the planet. Environmental
degradation poses a threat to life itself in some areas, and to the quality of life in
many countries. False development models based on industrialization, the unequal
distribution of resources, excessive consumerism and ignorance of the pernicious
consequences of pollution have all contributed to this global plight. Social workers
need to work with community groups in tackling the consequences of
environmental decline and destruction.

Fields of Social Work:

1. Youth Welfare:
Youth are the future of this world. Education programs that teach them their
human rights and how to defend and protect them forward the message of tolerance
and cooperation, and the ultimate goal of universal human rights. Youth are the
future. They need to know their human rights and know that they must take
responsibility to protect themselves and their peers. As they become aware and
active in this cause, the message travels far and wide, and someday universal
human rights will be a fact, not just an idealistic dream.
National and regional welfare organization on Pakistan are working on these main
aspects of youth welfare; Drug abuse, homeless and shellt6er less youth, healthy
and education problem of youths sports competitions extra co-curricular activities
for youth debate competition of youth. Some of agencies working on youth welfare
are; youth welfare foundation, youth welfare network etc.
2. Child Welfare:
From a Social work and Human rights perspective, children need special
protection because of their fragile state of development compared with most
adult’s children are much more susceptible to abuse and neglect, and in many
countries, they occupy a special status I need of protection because of their
earlier stage of development. Individual states within the United States have
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created agencies with the specific goas of protecting children from abuse and
neglect. For example, the Department of Children and Family Services in
Illinois oversees the safety of children and views the following as the basic
rights:
i. The right to be protected against neglect, cruelty, abuse, and exploitation.
ii. The right to safe housing, health care, and education to prepare them for
the future.
iii. The right to be unique person whose individuality is protected from
violation.
iv. The right to prepare for the responsibilities of parenthood, family life and
citizenship.
v. The right to maintain relationship with people who are important to them.
vi. The right to a stable family.
vii. The right to safe, nurturing relationships intended a last life time (Illinois
Department of Children and Family Services).
Some NGOs rendering child welfare services EDHI foundation, TCF, Maternity
and Child Welfare Association of Pakistan and bunyad foundation.

3. Women Welfare:
The social status of women in Pakistan is one of systemic gender
subordination even though it varies considerably across classes, regions, and the
rural/urban divide due to uneven socioeconomic development and the impact of
tribal, feudal, and capitalist social formations on women's lives. The Pakistani
women of today do, however, enjoy a better status than the past.[39][40]
Pakistan has a dual system of civil and sharia law. The Constitution of
Pakistan recognizes equality between men and women states ("There shall be no
discrimination on the basis of sex") but also recognizes as valid Sharia
law (Federal Shariat Court) .
Numberless organizations are addressing the women problems on National and
regional levels. They are focusing on violence against women, honor killing, acid
victims, Karo Kari, vani, sexual abuse, maternal health care, education for girl’s
women employment, and gender equality etc. APWA, Edhi Foundation, AKRSP,
NRSP, AURAT Foundation and dar-ul-aman and some of the NGOs working on it.
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4. School Social Work:

A school social worker provides counseling and psycho-social services to children
and adolescents in schools at both micro and macro levels. Social workers work as
mental health experts, leaders of social and emotional development within the
school community, family-school liaisons, and program development experts.
They aim to address student issues by working with an ecological, systems
approach with parents, the school, and the community. They also work with crisis
intervention, group treatment, child neglect and abuse identification and reporting,
integrating services to culturally and economically diverse populations, and
working on education policy issues. Most school social workers in the United
States hold a Master of Social Work degree and have specialized training in
helping students within the context of local schools.
Right to Education Pakistan, also known as RTE Pakistan or simply RTE, is an
advocacy campaign for equal education rights for all children in Pakistan. The
RTE campaign stems from low enrollment levels in Pakistani schools, and low
literacy levels (especially among Pakistani females) depicted by the Annual Status
of Education Report (ASER). It functions under the Citizens Movement for
Quality Education, an initiative by Idara-e-Taleem o Aagahi (ITA), or "The Centre
of Education and Consciousness."
The RTE campaign urges government officials to enforce education laws set forth
in Article 25-A of the Pakistani Constitution, which states "The State shall
provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen
years in such manner as may be determined by law.”[4] RTE also aims to mobilize
parents, teachers, students/youth and civil society to demand "free and compulsory
education" for all children.

5. Social Work with Old Age:

An estimated 7% of Pakistan’s population (13 million people) is over 60 years of
age. The rights of older people are often neglected and remain invisible in
international human rights law, national legislation and day-to-day lives even
though Pakistan is party to several treaties for older people. These include the
covenant on civil and political rights, convention against torture, elimination of all
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forms of discrimination aga7tinst women and covenant on economic, social and

cultural rights. Pakistan is also a signatory to the Madrid Plan of action on Ageing
2002, which calls for older persons to have secure income, access to healthcare, a
safe place to live and an opportunity for community participation. Older people
around the world raise their voices for protection of their rights. Older campaigners
have made great strides forward to protect older people’s rights by becoming
agents of change. It is time Pakistan also broke stereotypes of older people as
passive and dependent.
In Pakistani society number of old homes are less in quantity, major reason is that
the family bondage is strong in Pakistan as compared to western societies.
Nevertheless, some old homes are providing personal care and residential services
to old people who have been regardless by their family. Affat and Edhi Welfare
Home are some of the examples of these welfare organization.

6. Medical Social Work:

Healthcare in Pakistan is administered mainly in the private sector which
accounts for approximately 80% of all outpatient visits. The public sector was until
recently led by the Ministry of Health. However, the Ministry was abolished in
June 2011 and all health responsibilities (mainly planning and fund allocation)
were devolved to provincial health departments which had been the main executors
of public sector health programs. The Ministry of National Regulations and
Services was reestablished in April 2012. Like other South Asian countries, health
and sanitation infrastructure is adequate in urban areas but is generally poor in
rural areas.
Pakistan's health care delivery system includes both state and non-state; and profit
and not for profit service provision. Studies have shown that Pakistan's private
sector healthcare system is outperforming public sector healthcare system in terms
of service quality and patient satisfaction. The provincial and district health
departments, para-statal organizations, social security institutions, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) and private sector finance and provide
services mostly through vertically managed disease-specific mechanisms. The
country’s health sector is also marked by urban-rural disparities in healthcare
delivery and an imbalance in the health workforce, with insufficient health
managers, nurses, paramedics and skilled birth attendants in the peripheral areas.
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Pakistan Red Crescent Society is working on a board scale for the welfare and
rehabilitation of poor patients.

7. Welfare of Juvenile Delinquents:

In the words of Gillin Gillin, “Delinquents is one who is guilty of an act believed
by a group that has power to enforce its belief, to be injurious to society and
therefore prohibited”. “In short, juvenile delinquents are those young persons who
have been found indulging in destructive acts such as theft and car lifting etc. In
Pakistan we do not have any legal administrative regulation defining the term
juvenile delinquency in a welfare spectrum, welfare organizations cover following
aspects; to eradicate the causes of juvenile delinquency. (e.g. child labor, child
abuse etc.)
Legal protection to juvenile delinquents
Rehabilitations of juvenile delinquents etc.
For instance, Consortium for street children in a network of NGOs working for
juvenile delinquents in Pakistan.
8. Welfare of Handicapped:
Physically and mentally handicapped are the deprived and neglect section of our
society. They are dependent on other people for their survival. For the betterment
of this vulnerable and marginalized group various NGOs are working such as
Association of physically Handicapped Adults (APHA), Pakistan Disable
foundation (PDF). Pakistan Association of Deaf (PAD).
9. Welfare of Socially Handicapped:
The Socially Handicapped may include the old age, infirm, invalids, drugs
addiction, crime, child abuse, disabled due to some accidents, widows, orphans
deserted women, etc. A majority of them have no organic defect nor suffer from
chronic disease but they are incapable to doing work because of their age, loss of
limbs or certain social difficulties. Aid for refugees and orphans, PIHRO (Pakistan
International Human Rights organizations) etc. are some of welfare organizations,
providing services I this regard.
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REFERENCE

 www.ifsw.com
 www.socialissuesofpakistan.com
 www.fundamentalrightsofpakistan.org.com
 www.socialwork.com
 www.NASW.com
 www.pakistanconstitutionlaw.com
 Social Work & Human Rights (Elisabeth Reichert )
 Human Rights & Social Work (Jim Ife)
 Social Work, Social Justice, and Human Rights: A Structural Approach to
Practice (Colleen Lundy)