Creating a Human Rights Culture in a Master’s in Social Work Program

Abstract

Social workers have been grappling with social, economic, and political issues relating to human rights since the profession's inception. It is only recently that there has been explicit recognition of human rights as core principles on which work toward social justice rests. Throughout the world, human rights are considered to be a common benchmark of basic achievement for all peoples and nations. Human rights establish a set of well-defined and accessible principles and standards for social work. They can form the basis of a comprehensive approach to social work practice and increase universality of the profession by creating a clear standard of principles to guide practice and theory. An increasing number of scholars and practitioners in the USA have articulated a convincing case regarding the fit between social work values and human rights principles and the ways in which such principles have relevance to every level of social work theory and practice.

An Exploration of Human Rights and Social Work Education in the United States

“…Eight of the 32 articles discussed the general need to integrate human rights into social work education in the United States (Chiarelli-Helminiak et al, 2018;"Global Agenda," 2014b;Healy & Wairire, 2014;Pelton, 2001;Richards-Desai et al, 2018;Reichert, 2011b;Steen, 2006;Witkin, 1998). Witkin (1998) argues that human rights are integral to the mission of social work.…”

“…Despite the desire to include human rights in social work education, many authors highlighted significant challenges. Scholars point out that the application of human rights to social work practice in the United States remains in infancy, with many practitioners lacking formal instruction in this area (Chiarelli-Helminiak et al, 2018;Reichert, 2011b;Richards-Desai et al, 2018). There is a lack of understanding and consensus on human rights within the social work profession due to the ambiguity surrounding the teaching of human rights.…”

“…Healy and Wairire (2014) make a case that more curriculum emphasis on social and economic development, human rights, and social integration is needed. Scholars also draw attention to the fact that current global and local standards for the social work curriculum do not require or even recommend coverage of the international instruments specified in the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development (Chiarelli-Helminiak et al, 2018;Healy & Wairire, 2014;Richards-Desai et al, 2018).…”

“…Stark contradictions and ambiguity exist around teaching human rights and its relationship to social justice (Chiarelli-Helminiak et al, 2018;Pelton, 2001;Richards-Desai et al, 2018). Even though the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) endorses human rights in policy statements, human rights are not explicitly addressed in the professional code of ethics.…”

“…Even though the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) endorses human rights in policy statements, human rights are not explicitly addressed in the professional code of ethics. Instead, human rights are implied under the "social justice" value (Ife, 2012;Richards-Desai et al, 2018). A recent study also suggests that many social work educators place human rights and social justice in the category of "macro social work" (Chiarelli-Helminiak et al, 2018).…”