Understanding human rights is critically important in social
work education and practice. This is further emphasized in the global
definition of social work which highlights that as a practice-based profession
and academic discipline, social work relies on the principles of social
justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversity.
Concomitantly, social work education must ensure that students know and
understand human rights laws especially those which are inherent to all human
beings and are often expressed and guaranteed by international law which
Governments are expected to uphold. As duty bearers, social workers commit to
supporting governments in the upholding of those agreements pertinent to the
well-being of the people. This paper examined the knowledge of undergraduate
students of international agreements/laws before leaving the University. These
agreements not only speak to nation-states but to universal practices. Many
social work issues are universal and transcend borders. A mixed method was
utilised to ascertain students’ awareness of international human rights laws
and their perceptions of its applicability to practice. The findings show that
there is limited knowledge among social work students on human rights covenants
and conventions. This assessment is instructive to social work educators
locally and internationally and points to the need for its integration into the
curricula. Undergraduate generalist practitioners must leave the University
with a clear understanding of these laws since many practice issues are
transnational. There will be a need for international social work to be a
taught course for undergraduate training to become generalist practitioners.
Author(s) Details:
Paulette Andrea Henry,
University of Guyana, Guyana.
Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RRAASS-V6/article/view/13723
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