State Intervention

Peter ConnollySocial Work

Scotland

Academic Excellence at the Heart of Scotland

DYUTI - National Conference 2009


Government Interventions in the area of Right to Life from an International Perspective

Peter ConnollyUniversity of Stirling, Scotland


This presentation has three headings:

1 The Right to Life

2 International Perspectives of Social Work

3 Government Interventions to Protect People


The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France.

Article 3 – The Right to Life

It is the most translated document in the world.


On 20 November 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The Convention outlines the rights and responsibilities of every child and young person under the age of 18.

The UNCRC is today most ratified human rights instrument in the world.

2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the UNCRC.


UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Article 6

States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life.

States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.


The Right to Life (Article 6)

This Right to Life must not be viewed as an abstract or idealistic aspiration.

It must be firmly grounded in the basic human needs required to achieve life, growth, and development.


“Human rights represent one of the most powerful ideas in contemporary discourse.

In a world of economic globalisation, where individualism, greed and becoming rich are seen as the most important things in life …


…and where at the time the formerly secure moral positions for judging our actions seem to be declining into a morass of post-modern relativism, the idea of human rights provides an alternative moral reference point for those who would seek to reaffirm the values of humanity.”

(Ife, 2001)


The IFSW and IASSW (International Association of Schools of Social Work) definition of social work:

Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work (IFSW and IASSW, 2004).

The IFSW definition of social work is accepted within many countries, because of its ethical basis and its commitment to social change and human rights.



2 International Perspectives of Social Work

An International Perspective of Social

Work


“The profession of social work, having entered its second century as an organised profession, is now a global profession.” (Healy, 2001)

Social work has also become a Global Activity


“Value commitments and ethical principles are at the core of social work as a profession. At least in general principles, there is a global commonality of values.

Social work in every country stands for respect for worth and dignity of all people.”

Particularly the Right to Life.(Healy, 2001)


Three types of International Social Work:

1 International Social Work Agencies that work in different countries in World, to try to achieve social work aims (like UNICEF). These may have a global remit.

2 Contacts and exchanges between social workers from different countries, to share knowledge and skills, but also to influence global social work issues


3 Global awareness of social work and social problems in other countries, to introduce a wider understanding of global issues, but also to understand the view of migrant workers and refugees entering the host nation.

(Midgley, 2001)


Social work agencies around the world can be analysed and defined using three key indictors, which are:

1 The degree of independence of the agency

Is it a state governed agency or state funded?Or, does it have independent charitable based funding?


2 The types of services provided and their focus. Is it a generic welfare service, or a specialised service, aimed at specific issues or specific categories of people (children, women or particular disabilities).

3 The responsibilities of the agency.Does it provide direct services, or does it commission others?

(Shardlow, 2007: 95)


Social Work is a global activity and a global profession.

First, Social Work exists in the majority of countries and is part of a global profession

Second, Social Work everywhere shares the same Ethical Codes and Values.

Third, Social Workers are working with similar social problems in most countries.


Fourth, Social Work almost everywhere in the world has a low status amongst other professions.

Fifth, Social Work is in of danger of becoming the servant of government through its role in the trend to contract services out and the so-called demise of the welfare state.

(Cox & Pawar, 2006)


Social Work, whether as a global activity or as a global profession, is at the heart of supporting and protecting people.

Its central belief and aim must be to work for others, to have the Right to Life.



3 Government Interventions to Protect People

Social Work in Scotland


A Human Right Tension: Control vs. Care

In Scotland there is an acceptance that a level of intervention by the State, to protect citizens who are vulnerable, is required.

Such intervention should be proportionate to the levels of dependency and vulnerability of the citizens concerned, alongside their capacity to consent or participate in the protection process.


For an issue to be seen and addressed as a social problem, requiring some form of state intervention, it has to be defined as such.

Within Scotland it is possible to trace a Social and Political process, going back over 150 years, that has lead to the current understanding which defines protecting children and adults from risk of harm and abuse.


Protecting People is a Political Issue in the UK

1889 First Children’s Act – a Children’s Charter1908 Children Act

1932 Children & Young Persons Act1948 The Children Act

1968 Social Work (Scotland) Act1996 Children (Scotland) Act 2007 Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act

The New Scottish

Parliament

State intervention into family life and private life has become acceptable in Scotland.

This level of intervention is viewed as being justifiable, when children and adults are considered to be at risk of serious harm and abuse within their families.


The degree of state intervention, however, into family and private lives remains highly contestable.

Appropriate Interventio

n

A HARD LINE TO DRAW

Unnecessary

Interference

StateIntervention


There has been a constant pendulum type swing between providing increased support to more direct protectionist approaches to safeguarding vulnerable people.


The key ethical question is –

how much harm and abuse is a society willing to acknowledge and tolerate, balanced against how much interference in the private lives of individuals and families can be tolerated and justified by the state?

(Banks, 2006)




Peter ConnollyUniversity of Stirling, Scotland

Technology

State Intervention