World Social Work Day Greetings

Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress
James Clancy, National President, National Union
Nigel Fisher, President and CEO, Unicef Canada


Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress
“I wish to extend, on behalf of the Officers, staff, and members of the Canadian Labour Congress, our thanks and best wishes to the members of your organization.  I know that many of us are aware of the deep social justice commitment of your members to all Canadians.

I also with to acknowledge the incredible contribution of Social Workers throughout Canada to the labour movement.  Currently, and in recent years, social workers have headed up some of Canada’s largest unions, making an incredible contribution to increasing the welfare of working families across the country.

In every province, social workers are on the front lines of dealing with many of our social problems and these same people often dedicate an enormous amount of thime to working in their unions for the betterment of their fellow workers.

Certainly without the leadership I have seen in unions such as the National Union of Public and General Employees and its provincial components and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Canadian society would be much poorer.

Once again, please extend our thanks to your members, many of whom are also our members, for the great work they do.”

James Clancy, National President, National Union
“On behalf of the 340,000 members of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) in Canada, it is my honour to send greetings to the CASW and IFSW and your members in celebration of World Social Work Day.

NUPGE represents many unionized social workers across Canada who work in hospitals, mental health, home care, community-based social services, the justice system and many other settings.

We know that social workers provide services that ensure a decent quality of life for many families and some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.  We also recognize that while the work social workers do is critical, it too often goes unrecognized.

In addition to the critical front line services they provide, many social workers have donated an incredible amount of time and energy to union activities and to improving working conditions for their co-workers.

That’s why it is such a great pleasure for us to join you in celebrating Work Social Work Day and expressing our appreciation for the incredible contributions that social workers make to improve the lives of countless families in communities across Canada and around the world.

We look forward to continuing to work together with CASW and IFSW for social justice and labour and human rights in the years ahead.”

Nigel Fisher, President and CEO, Unicef Canada
“Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international treaties, all children have the right to be protected from harm. Strong child protection systems provide a bulwark against the web of risks and vulnerabilities underlying many forms of harm and abuse -  sexual abuse and exploitation; trafficking; hazardous labour; violence; living or working on the streets; the impact of armed conflict; lack of access to justice; and unnecessary institutionalization, among others. A protective environment for children provides certain guarantees for the health, education and well-being of children and support for their evolving capacities to be parents, citizens and productive members of society.

UNICEF’s global work in building a protective environment for children is oriented towards strengthening national protection systems and supporting social change. One of the strategic actions for supporting national protection systems we pursue is strengthening the social welfare sector and supporting the quality and use of social work, including its professionalization. A strong protective system takes into account the diverse and critical functions performed by social workers, particularly for improving the well-being of disadvantaged groups - of whom children, invariably, are the most vulnerable.

UNICEF celebrates its partnership with the International Federation of Social Workers and its members, including the Canadian Association of Social Workers, recognizing the immense contribution that social work professionals make towards ensuring social justice, human rights and development in Canada and around the world.  This year, on November 20, the world will mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  The progress that has been made to protect children in our society would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration of social workers. The work still to be done to fully provide for and protect the rights of children cannot be undertaken without you!”

Modified: Friday, March 13, 2009 15:22