Social Work and Social Justice:

Concept & Significance

Social work as a profession is underpinned
by ideas of social justice and human rights,
and that social workers have an ethical
obligation to uphold these ideas.

Social justice and social work cannot be

separated. They ensure people are treated
with respect and promote social justice
within schools, disaster situation, hospitals,
community centers, nursing homes and
more.
IFSW definition of social work
stated that ……. Principles of social
justice, human rights, collective
responsibility and respect for
diversities are central to social
work.
It means that social work is based on
principles of social justice. It developed
to promote social justice.
Social justice principles refer to values “that
favours measures that aim at decreasing or
eliminating inequity; promoting inclusiveness of
diversity; and establishing environments that
are supportive of all people.”
From the above we found four principles of
social justice:
1. Equity
2. Diversity
3. Supportive environments
4. Human rights
In USA the NASW (national association of
social workers) lists social justice as one of
the social work’s profession core values,
which include:
- Service
- Social justice
- Dignity and worth of the person
- Importance of human relationships
- Integrity
- Competence
Social workers engage in social justice because
they have to be attentive to the environmental
and societal factors that contribute to people’s
struggles.
Reamer explains “that individual clients’ struggles
with problems such as clinical depression,
anxiety, domestic violence, substance abuse and
poor health often stem from significant social
and economic problems associated with poverty,
unemployment, unaffordable housing, inflation
and other environmental problems.”