Building the Unsettling Force: Social Workers and the Struggle for Human Rights

Abstract

Community organizing for human rights provides a platform for social workers to be actively engaged in dismantling systems of oppression. Using a case study of Women In Transition, this article emphasizes strategies for organizing for economic human rights, including opportunities and challenges in using the human rights framework. Recommendations and implications for the social work profession are discussed.

Human Rights-Based Approaches to Clinical Social Work

“…Fundamentally, a rights-based approach goes deeper than addressing individuals' immediate needs (Jewell, Collins, Gargotto, & Dishon, 2009), both working to realize their rights through service provision and advocating for the advancement of human rights more broadly .…”

Local and Global Poverty: Insights Using a Rights-based Approach

“…The increasing tilt of the profession toward micro interventions following the lead of evidence based medicine is a historic reinforcement of the COS methodologies. Although, clinical social work will always be a key aspect of the profession's identity, it is unfortunate that social workers are abandoning the pursuit of the ideals of structural equity and justice (Jewell, Collins, Gargotto, & Dishon, 2009). Resource constraints, growing backlash from conservative legislators are some of the key reasons that keep social workers disengaged from public discourse on disenfranchisement of our key constituencies (Jewell, et al, 2009).…”

“…Although, clinical social work will always be a key aspect of the profession's identity, it is unfortunate that social workers are abandoning the pursuit of the ideals of structural equity and justice (Jewell, Collins, Gargotto, & Dishon, 2009). Resource constraints, growing backlash from conservative legislators are some of the key reasons that keep social workers disengaged from public discourse on disenfranchisement of our key constituencies (Jewell, et al, 2009). Although the construct of social justice for all is adequately addressed in the NASW code of ethics, there is a functional treatment meted out to the concepts vis-à-vis practice.…”

“…This approach facilitated windows of opportunity for the community to take control on their collective destinies (Kapur & Duvvury, 2006). Additionally, in a study by Jewell et al (2009), the authors described an anti-poverty program that used a human rights perspective for critical education and appropriate intervention on poverty. Several aspects of this intervention had close orientations with the rights-based framework.…”

“…Several aspects of this intervention had close orientations with the rights-based framework. The Women In Transition (WIT) group made up of former welfare recipients used their leverage to educate and develop support against poverty, developed a strong toolbox of skills for members such as programs on strength and resilience to combat poverty in their lives (Jewell, et al, 2009).…”