Using a Human Rights-based

approach in Social work

BMP SETLALENTOA

Topics

Introduction

The Context

Provision of social welfare services

The SA Constitution

Developmental social welfare

National Development Plan

Social work and human rights

Social work qualification

Critical questions

Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Promoting social change

Human relationships

Empowerment and liberation

Interacting with the environment

Principles of human rights and social justice

The Context

Provision of social welfare services

Pre-Apartheid (1652-

1948)

Charity

Independent

Poor relief

Apartheid era (1948-

1994)

Residual approach

Institutional

approach

Democratic era

(1994-

Developmental

approach

THE CONTEXT

The SA Constitution

The mirror of the society we seek to create

It promises to establish a society based on social justice, to improve quality of life of all citizens and to free the potential of

each person.

Developmental social welfare

The welfare sector also responded by changing policies to reflect the new South Africa.

The developmental approach in line with the Constitution was adopted.

Patel (2005) is of the view that the developmental perspective to social welfare in SA is rooted in a rights-based approach.

Human rights and social justice are the cornerstone of social development

THE CONTEXT

Violence, Gang-related crime in schools, Substance abuse

Social problems and high-risk behaviour undermines human development and social cohesion

Sense of powerlessness and social isolation (National Development Plan, 2011:337).

Challenges which poor people face needs to inform and shape national development strategies

Social workers can help build and strengthen interaction between governments and their citizens

SOCIAL WORK AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Patel (2005) emphasises the point that individuals and client populations are

subjects of rights. It means they are not

the passive receivers of rights but they are

active partners with those working for the

realisation of rights and together they have

a shared interest.

Social work and human rights

Are the social work interventions including or excluding?

Solidarity

Rupture of social bond

that is cultural and moral

Specialisation

Discrimination and

denial of full access

Monopoly

Social order is

coersive

Social work and human rights

The critical questions that this paper seeks to interrogate are:

Are the voices of the vulnerable heard and their rights protected?

Are we focusing on inclusive social work interventions that promote and protect human

rights?

Are there policies that address the social and economic inequalities such as resource

distribution?

Understanding and commitment of social workers and policy makers

will certainly promote the human based culture. In that the voices of all

will be heard and comprehensive, appropriate interventions will

promote achievement of the MDGs. Social workers should base their

work on promoting social change, empowering individuals and

communities. Let me conclude by quoting Helen Clark that at the heart

of the concept of human development is an acknowledgement of the

importance of people being able to live lives which they choose and

value. At the heart of our work is engaging communities in voicing what

they want their future to look like.

Thank you