Journal of Human Rights and Social Work最新文献

The exercise of self-determination is a human right; however, for people with dementia (PWD), progressive physical and cognitive impairment negatively affects their decision-making processes. For PWD, it is often relatives who make such decisions. This qualitative study included interviews with sixteen relatives of PWD who live in nursing homes. Research questions are as follows: How do relatives understand the participation of PWD who live in nursing homes? How do co-researchers understand participation and the role of relatives? A co-researcher was consulted when the questions were designed. During the interviews with relatives, photos were used to stimulate discussion. Critical situations in nursing homes were discussed with relatives and later interpreted together with a co-researcher. The findings included an understanding of how relatives played a key role in PWD; however, relatives were concerned that PWD were unable to take part in decisions. In addition, relatives named ways that nursing homes opposed human rights, and the co-researchers also highlighted situations that conflicted with human rights. Classifying dementia as a disability at the policy level could strengthen the rights issues of PWD. The key findings of the study are essential for social workers arranging for placement of PWD in nursing homes.

Environmental degradation and climate change are a human rights concern. Climate change has been identified as the “single biggest health threat facing humanity” (WHO, Climate change and health, 2021b, para. 1), contributing to increased disease and death, severe mental health problems, loss of livelihood, and increased conflict and war. Despite the inclusion of environmental justice in CSWE’s, 2015 Educational policy and accreditation standards for baccalaureate and master’s social work programs, 2015 and 2022 Educational policy and accreditation standards for baccalaureate and master’s social work programs, 2022 Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) and the subsequent publication of a Curricular Guide for Environmental Justice (CSWE, Curricular guide for environmental justice, 2020), little attention has been given in the social work literature on how to include environmental issues in social work practice. In this article, we present an interview guide with resources that can be used in social work practice with individuals and families to identify concerns in the natural and built environment. This is the first step to recognizing the many ways the people with whom we work are impacted by environmental degradation, climate change, and environmental injustice. Once these impacts are identified, social work problem-solving skills can be applied to develop appropriate responses at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

Within a complex social fabric interwoven into the Indian working class, this research studies the socio-economic-cultural environment of India in the context of single working mothers and the impact of the generation gap on the perceived socio-economic-cultural environment of Indian society for single working mothers (SWMs). Considering the scarce importance given to human rights in India, the need to study employed single working mothers was identified as a key focus area. The study was based on primary data collected from 577 single working mothers from eight states of India. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to develop a model for the socio-economic-cultural environment of the Indian society for single working mothers. The study highlighted four major socio-economic-cultural environment factors which influence single working mothers. These factors were mainly work environment, employment challenges, community and society prejudices, and family responsibilities. Out of these four, old and new generation single working mothers have the same community perceptions, culture, prejudices, family responsibilities, and work environment. Findings from this study may be used by industry to develop more inclusive workspaces and policies that recognize the contributions of single working mothers; from a societal standpoint, key takeaways challenge existing notions of childcare and careers. The paper could serve as a wake-up call for social organizations that assist in policymaking regarding career-oriented mothers who don multiple roles and are motivated to excel in all walks of life.

In January 2023, the European Commission presented a plan to increase the number of return migrants who return to countries outside the European Union (EU), after having fled their countries of origin due to war, political conflict, and the socio-economic consequences of such conflicts. This plan is supported by the EU and the UNHCR adoption of repatriation, or the right of displaced peoples to return to their country of origin, as the preferred solution to the migration crisis. This preference has been in effect since 1996, despite a significant body of research which substantiates that repatriation is not sustainable. To address the discrepancy between existing evidence and the adoption of repatriation as a sustainable solution, this study was grounded in a postcolonial and transnational feminist framework and used critical discourses analysis to explore the forced repatriation of Kosovars. Kosova offers an important case study on repatriation as it has one of the highest numbers of returnees per capita. In addition, considering that migration is a gendered process, this study included interviews with 15 return migrant women and 18 social service providers in Kosovo who support return migrants. Findings suggest that, contrary to the UNHCR assumption that repatriation is voluntary, most return migrant interviewees were forced to return, and many had their human rights violated during the return process. Interviews with service providers give insight into the dilemmas that social workers face when working with returnees whose rights have been violated. The article discusses the difficulties social workers in Kosova face when trying to uphold the social work commitment to social justice. Although centered on Kosovo, the study’s implications are important for social workers practicing anywhere, as practice with people who migrate is an increasing occurrence within social work, and we need to be better prepared to navigate the dilemmas we face.

This article follows the journey of creating a digital preventative education programme for combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) and child sex trafficking in Thailand and Cambodia. Created and rolled out over 2 years as part of the End Violence Against Children (EVAC) grant during the COVID-19 global pandemic, this article sets out how the programme was designed, with direct input from children and professionals, and underpinned by human rights and contextual safeguarding principles. It outlines how collaborative approaches between children, academia, expert NGO’s, and professionals have resulted in a thought-provoking digital programme (May and Bay) that sensitively tackles sexual grooming and promotes child safeguarding. The article highlights how the game focuses on the interplay between children’s choices online and the environmental constraints they face, with the lead characters May (aged 11) and Bay (aged 13) making ‘risky’ and ‘safe’ choices against interacting aspects of their social and digital environments. The game supports the development of digital competence among children and professionals by promoting awareness of online harms emanating from the interplay of technology with children’s micro, meso, and macro environments against a range of people whose interaction with them may be ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’. It recognises children, peers, parents, carers, professionals responsible for safeguarding, media, legislators, and local non-governmental and international aid organisations as potential ‘attractors’ or ‘agents within the system’ whose combined efforts can change how child safeguarding systems respond.

This study, based on grounded theory, aims to explore the dilemmas faced by social workers in practicing the ethical values and principles in the social work profession. Specifically, we sought to understand the overlapping factors leading to the imposition of dilemmas that impede practitioners’ commitment to dealing with various ethical responsibilities. To achieve this, the study was conducted with 12 social workers employed in three social institutions in the capital, Amman. Individual interviews were used as a tool to collect data from the sample. The social workers’ narratives were coded and analyzed through various analytical processes, and the data was analyzed in light of relevant literature and previous studies. Thus, practitioners’ experiences with ethical dilemmas encountered in practice were comprehensively understood. These dilemmas relate to the lack of state recognition of social work, social workers themselves, the workplace, clients, and colleagues. The findings of this study could help officials and policymakers in developing strategies and implementing methods that support practitioners in employing ethical practices throughout their careers, thereby maintaining the positive reputation of social work and meeting the needs of clients. By seriously considering the implications of this study, the results not only serve to develop academic knowledge but also produce new tools for providing feedback that may help in the professional preparation programs for aspiring social workers.