Global Ethics for Social Work: Problems and Possibilities—Papers from the Ethics & Social Welfare Symposium, Durban, July 2008

Abstract

This piece comprises short presentations given by contributors to a symposium organized by the journal Ethics & Social Welfare on the theme of global ethics for social work. The contributors offer their reflections on the extent to which universally accepted international statements of ethical principles in social work are possible or useful, engaging with debates about cultural diversity, relativism and the relevance of human rights in non-Western countries.

Keywords:

• Global Ethics
• Social Work Ethics
• Universalism
• Human Rights
• Cultural Relativism

Notes

¹n the United Kingdom, for example, the social work qualification became a degree-level qualification in 2003.In a recent review (Department of Health 2008) there is little evidence that moral philosophy is a core part of the curriculum.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah Banks

Sarah Banks is Professor in the School of Applied Social Sciences, Durham University, UK and co-editor of the journal Ethics and Social Welfare

Richard Hugman

Richard Hugman is Professor of Social Work, School of Social Sciences and International Studies, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, E-mail: [email protected]

Lynne Healy

Lynne M. Healy is Professor, University of Connecticut School of Social Work, USA, E-mail: [email protected]

Vivienne Bozalek

Vivienne Bozalek is Professor in Social Work at the University of Western Cape, South Africa, E-mail: [email protected]

Joan Orme

Joan Orme is Professor Emerita of Social Work, University of Glasgow, UK, E-mail: [email protected]