For Immediate Release
September 11, 2015
The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) stands behind the recent statement of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) calling for immediate and substantial action from governments to resolve the humanitarian crisis now affecting most of Europe.
Social workers believe in the obligation of people, individually and collectively, to provide resources, services and opportunities for the overall benefit of humanity and to afford them protection from harm. For our profession, addressing the refugee crisis in Europe is a humanitarian obligation that countries, like Canada, in position of economic privilege, cannot ethically ignore.
As the IFSW statement outlines, the last mass migration of peoples following the Second World War established the role of social workers as a key component, in partnership with others, in rebuilding communities. The adoption of social work principles such as ‘involving all people to have influence over their own lives’, and ‘a respect for dignity and human rights ’ will lead to sustainable solutions that allow people to find peace and security.
CASW supports all Canadian public and private commitments to address this growing refugee crisis. CASW calls for all political parties to commit to an emergent response and for the next Government of Canada to make this humanitarian crisis central to its immediate mandate.
CASW joins IFSW in calling for the establishment of integration programmes in each affected country and addressing the international dynamics that are the root cause for this refugee crisis.
Morel Caissie, MSW, RSW
CASW President
