Description
Book SynopsisAt its founding, social workers were human rights defenders who advocated for societal reforms and fought against social exclusion and discriminatory practices that violated human rights. As social work grew and developed professional skill sets, values, and ethics, the focus turned toward professionalizing social work by creating theories and interventions to guide social work practice, and justice was no longer the driving force. The role of social workers as human rights defenders faded as the place of justice in social work receded. Social work practice moved from instigating change toward maintaining the existing social infrastructure.In A Human Rights-Based Approach to Justice in Social Work Practice, Shirley Gatenio Gabel presents a human rights-based approach toward justice in social work practice that is more in line with social work''s roots and the intentions of its founders, and moves us past the false micro/macro dichotomy within social work. A rights-based approach seeks to transform societies in ways that care with respect and dignity for one another. This renewed approach requires the full participation of impacted individuals and communities to create systems supportive of human rights and economic, social, and environmental justice. Readers will be challenged to think critically about the social infrastructure we have built, who benefits from it, who doesn''t, and how it perpetuates inequities.Using case examples, exercises, and reflection activities, this book will serve as a go-to guide on implementing and integrating a rights-based approach to justice in social work practice.
Trade ReviewThis essential text calls social work back to its roots of fighting systematic oppression and injustice. It provides the fundamental knowledge students need about human rights and justice with how to apply the rights-based approach at every level of social work practice to be 'human rights defenders.'" * Susan Mapp, PhD, MSSW, Elizabethtown College *
This is a unique masterpiece that is appropriate to become a classic text for students, instructors, scholars, and social development practitioners working hard to ensure social justice by complying human rights-based approaches. The book is comprehensive, analytical, thought-provoking, and apprehends the focus on human rights and justice distinguished social workers from other helping professionals. The book presents a human rights-based approach to justice in social work practice using diversity, positionality, sustainability, and intersectionality lenses to ensure justice in social work practice." * Golam M. Mathbor, MSW, PhD, Professor and Program Director, Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Human Rights Leadership, School of Social Work, Monmouth University, West Long Branch *
Brilliant! Engaging and its content readily accessible. An essential read for bringing the profession back to its historical roots of disrupting and fighting against social exclusion and discriminatory practices that violate human rights. A Human Rights Based Approach to Justice in Social Work Practice is transformative and introduces its readers to critically think, act, and advocate to promote social, economic, and environmental justice for all." * Rebecca L. Thomas, PhD, University of Connecticut, School of Social Work *
Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1: Ethics, Morals, Human Rights, and Justice in Social Work Practice Section 1: Human Rights Chapter 2: Human Dignity and Respect for All Chapter 3: Evolving Concepts of Human Rights Chapter 4: Modern Human Rights Chapter 5: American Exceptionalism to International Human Rights Laws Section 2: Diversity, Privilege, Oppression, and Intersectionality Chapter 6: Diversity, Privilege, and Oppression Chapter 7: Social Identities, Positionality, and Intersectionality Section 3: Justice Chapter 8: What Is Justice? Chapter 9: Social Justice Chapter 10: Economic Justice Chapter 11: Environmental Justice Section 4: Integrating a Human Rights Approach to Justice in Social Work Practice Chapter 12: Applying a Rights-Based Approach to Justice in Social Work Chapter 13: Conclusion Appendix: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
