It is a fitting reality that the 2023 World Social Workers Day, which is celebrated annually in March, coincides with SA’s Human Rights Month. Even better, the World Social Workers Day, which is observed on the third Tuesday of March annually, this year fell on the same day as SA’s Human Rights Day – March 21.
Access to care by social workers is a fundamental human right, which every well-meaning government should seek to make available to its citizens. As we observe Human Rights Month, let us also recognise and celebrate those who work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable in society.
Social work and human rights are closely intertwined, as social workers are often involved in advocating for the rights of marginalised and vulnerable populations. Social workers strive to promote social justice and equality by working with individuals, families, and communities to overcome social and economic barriers that prevent them from achieving their full potential.
Social Workers inspire hope, particularly for the vulnerable. The profession has continued to breed change in our society through various interventions and programmes. Becoming a social worker often begins with an interested notion of helping others in a meaningful and lasting way.
Social workers are therefore agents of change who believe that equality can heal wounds caused by abuse, racism, homophobia, heterosexism, patriarchy, classism and poverty.
The profession seeks to end any form of injustice to human beings and it promotes equality and social change in our communities. Social workers are conscious of the battles they must fight and the forces that they can and cannot control. They are also conscious of political power and bureaucracy that seeks to diminish their spirits and that of their clients, and yet they continue to march on.
For an example, when a child is removed from an undesirable family environment to a safer space, this is usually done in the best interest of a child, and not to create strife in the family. In some instances, social workers are viewed with suspicion, as agents of family breakups, whereas their intention is to fix dysfunction in families and society.
The profession brings about change in our lives directly or indirectly. Social ills are currently impacting negatively on families and society at large. That means the social workers are often in the frontline, dealing with teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and violence against women and children. They provide care for other vulnerable members of society, such as people living with disability and neglected children and the elderly, just to name a few.
At the core of keeping the profession alive and effective, psychosocial support and debriefing for social workers also needs to improve as practitioners are often confronted with traumatic situations on the field.
Effective social work practice cannot take place unless social workers are healed from their own scars and receive emotional and trauma counselling. As we applaud social development in our society, let us not forget those who are behind the scenes and making things happen, those who bring plans and, strategies to life by delivering the most needed social services for the betterment of the vulnerable.
Our social workers are a voice of the marginalised in our communities and the advocacy role they play is important for social justice and contributes ultimately to transformation. Though this month is dedicated to honouring social workers worldwide, may the work of these gallant servants of the vulnerable be appreciated every step of the way.
- Kheswa works for the Gauteng department of social development
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