ifsweurope

Homeless people 'excluded' from European rights: theparliament.com

2012-02-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

Homeless people 'excluded' from European rights: theparliament.com

Protecting Our Children: Damned If They Do, Damned If They Don't - Social work in the media‏

2012-02-01T11:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Colleagues

This BBC documentary series might be of interest to you. It follows Bristol's child protection teams over the course of a year to see frontline work first-hand and explore how the crises of the last decade have had an impact on their ability to safeguard children. Social workers in the UK are reacting to the documentary strongly, and we hope that it will help to dispel some myths about social workers, and portray the complexity of the task. In my view this is one of the more sensitive attempts at portraying social work in television, and as such is welcomed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01bpjf7/Protecting_Our_Children_Damned_If_They_Do_Damned_If_They_Dont/

British Association of Social Workers (BASW) response to the documentary: http://www.basw.co.uk/news/5943/

I understand that people outside the UK are not able to view this documentary series on the BBC iPlayer, but you can follow the debate on Community Care website.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/editors_blog/2012/02/episode-2-bbcs-protecting-our-children-join-our-debate.html

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/static-pages/articles/Protecting-our-children/

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/childrens-services-blog/2012/01/bbc-protecting-our-children-valuable-lessons-for-social-work.html

Social Innovation in Education and Training

2012-02-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

Dear,

EUCIS-LLL would like to invite you to its Public Hearing on «Social Innovation in Education and Training» on 6 March 2012 from 9:30 to 12:30 in the EESC Building - Bâtiment Van Maerlant - Room VM 3 (2nd floor), 2 rue Van Maerlant, 1040 Bruxelles.

Today little is known about social innovation compared to the vast amount of research into innovation in business and science. EUCIS-LLL understands social innovation as changes in ideas, practices and institutions that aim to resolve existing social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges for the general interest. This seminar aims to give an insight on social innovation dynamics that are generally bottom-up and on how to create a favourable environment in Europe to stimulate innovation in teaching and learning.

As a key stakeholder at the European level, we would be honoured by your participation.

Please reply by Friday 2 March to info@eucis-lll.eu.

We look forward to welcoming you during this event.

Kind regards,

Gina Ebner,

President of EUCIS-LLL

Newsletter January 2012 General Council of Social Work in Spain

2012-01-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

Newsletter January 2012

New image and logo for the General Council of Social Work in Spain

December 2011 - In the last Assembly, our entity introduced its new corporate image transmitting some of its values: transparency, trust and loyalty. The Council wants to bet this New Year by its Communication Plan (with its updated website in the coming months – www.cgtrabajosocial.es ) and its presence in social networks (Facebook, Twitter and LikedIn).

Press releases to the cuts in Social Services in Spain

December 2011 - The global financial crisis is also affected Spain. There is growing widespread concern about the future of social services and social workers, above all to the measures and actions that are taking place in some Spanish towns. The action proposed by the General Council of Social Work is precisely to increase in a social and employment policies and a commitment by Social Services System. We are ensuring to the political forces that the presence of social workers is essential and irreplaceable in the future of Social Services and in this situation of crisis and social cuts. We have communicated this positioning with press releases and our presence at public events with our members and media.

We appreciate the position and commitment that International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) has had to this global crisis situation.

Working day “Theoretical Model about Individual Program of Care for Dependent People Tracking”

November 2011 - During this day the General Council of Social Work, in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality (D.G.IMSERSO), presented a research and development of a theoretical model about Individual Program of Care for Dependent People Tracking, which is one of the instruments of the Law on the Promotion of Personal Autonomy and Care for Dependent People. Its purpose was to train social workers with theoretical and practical tools for a good individual attention and contribute effectively to organizational development under the Law.

Currently the Law application in Spain takes a slow course and many dependents do not receive the required assistance.

General Council of Social Work has been awarded with Gold Cross of the Civil Order of Social Solidarity 2011.

November 2011 - The Cabinet of Spain has agreed, to the proposal of the Ministry of Health, Social Policies and Equality, to grant the Golden Cross of the Civil Order of Social Solidarity 2011 to the General Council of Social Work. This award recognizes individuals and institutions that have distinguished themselves in the promotion or development of activities and services related to solidarity and social action that have been a benefit social welfare.

National Research Award Ana Díaz Perdiguero 2011

September 2011 – Ana I. Lima, President of General Council of Social Work, presented the award to the winner Alba Torices Blanco for her research "XXI Century Social Workers: their current profile” This document gives us an overview about who Spanish social workers are, where they are and they think of their profession, and so on.

Likewise, the second prize was awarded to Alejandro Martin for his work "The inclusion from yourself." This research proposes a change in strategies of social policy and social intervention by empowering users.

The General Council took this opportunity to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Mary Ellen Richmond, presenting her book "Social Diagnosis", which was translated and published by our entity. In this space for the tribute, the social worker Delia Perez Lorenzo wrote and read a emotional and intimate letter to the author.

Collaboration Agreement between Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia and the General Council of Social Work

Septiembre 2011 - The President of the General Council of Social Work, Ana I. Lima Fernandez, signed a collaboration agreement with Pedro Vera Luna, Manager of Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia.

The purpose of this agreement is to establish different channels of cooperation between both organizations and enhance primarily in studies and research in Social Work, for training activities and publications, and to promote initiatives in Europe.

Manifesto for the Defense of Public Social Services System

Septiembre 2011 - The Alliance members presented a Manifesto for the Defense of Public Social Services System, which attempts to summarize some of the claims in a clear and concise to be broadly disseminated to the public, political representatives and the media. Later other Alliance’s action was the development of a document with proposals submitted to Spanish Parliament before the General Election in November 2011. These proposals were presented to all existing parliamentary groups.

This initiative has become known in Seminars, Conferences, Congress, Associations, and will be broadcast on a panel at the Stockholm Conference.

The Alliance’s documents are subject to discussion in social networks, and on the Council website (www.cgtrabajosocial.es/alianza) and are open to application for membership of individual persons, group or entities. So far over 4,000 people and 200 social organizations have joined the Alliance's actions.

Publications - Journal “Social Services and Social Policy”

The General Council has published the last two editions of the Journal “Social Services and Social Policy”. Currently this publication has a Scientific Advisory Committee, which is made up with important national and international Social Work professionals. Also in recent issues we were able to have the collaboration of international professional articles.

Nº 94: Social Intervention in Social Emergencies II

No. 95: Volunteering

If you are interested in subscribing to our magazine, you can get information at website:

Publicaciones

Greetings from Belgium

2012-01-22T14:28:00.000-08:00

Seasons greetings‏ from Turkey

2011-12-30T16:44:00.000-08:00

Seasons Greetings from Armenia

2011-12-30T01:59:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the Association of Trained Social Workers of Portugal

2011-12-29T13:45:00.001-08:00

Together in 2012 for a spark of light urgent and possible

Seasons Greetings from the Georgian Association of Social Workers

2011-12-29T12:44:00.001-08:00

Seasons Greetings from The Association of Social Workers of Kosovo

2011-12-27T06:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Colleagues,

Happy Holiday Season, I wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Best Regards,

Hamdi A.Boja

Te nderuara Kolege dhe Kolegë

Dëshiroj t’ ju uroj me gjithë zemër , të gjithëve , Festat e Fundvititdhe njVittë Ri 2012 më të gëzuar e më të begatë, me realizime kudo që prisni e dëshironi !

Përzemërsisht /

HamdiA.Boja

Seasons Greetings from the Lithuanian Association of Social Workers

2011-12-23T10:57:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Lithuania

Dalija

Doc. dr. Dalija Snieškienė

Socialinės gerovės fakultetas

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas

K. Donelaičio g. 52 - 406

44244 Kaunas

el. adresas: d.snieskiene@sgf.vdu.lt

http://sgf.vdu.lt

Seasons Greetings from the British Association of Social Workers

2011-12-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Colleagues and good friends,
Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2012 from BASW UK

Fran Fuller - Chair
Hilton Dawson - CEO

Season's greetings‏ from IFSW global

2011-12-23T10:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

As social workers are busy people we know that you will be managing many last tasks before the end of the year.
Here at the Secretariat of IFSW we too are feeling the pressure of the year’s end, but also we are counting the many successes of 2011. We would like to celebrate with you the achievements of social workers throughout the world in 2011. In this year the status of social workers has growing and resulting social development/justice outcomes have escalated. We also like to celebrate with you the unity and strengths we have all achieved bringing us positively forward into 2012 and beyond.

Wishing you, your families, and loved ones a safe, happy and restful transition to the New Year!

Dr. Rory Truell
Secretary-General

René Schegg
Policy and Communications Officer

Seasons Greetings from the Croatian Association of Social Workers

2011-12-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

Dear colleagues,

Croatian Association of Social Workers wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Best wishes

Tatjana Katkić Stanić

Seasons Greetings from the Bulgarian Association of Social Workers

2011-12-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

Seasons Greetings from the Italian Association of Social Workers

2011-12-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

ASSOCIAZIONE NAZIONALE ASSISTENTI SOCIALI- Roma

L'AssNAS augura Buone Feste,

Con l'augurio che, insieme, con l’impegno di tutti, la messa a disposizione delle diverse competenze, l’orientamento collettivo delle responsabilità individuali, si possano profilare politiche e programmi a sostegno dei più deboli, per l’affermazione piena dei diritti della persona!

Il Presidente

Graziella Povero

Christmas Greetings from Association of Social Workers in Iceland‏

2011-12-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS‏ FROM RUSSIA

2011-12-21T02:28:00.001-08:00

Dear colleagues,

Warmest wishes for coming holidays.

Best regards,

RUSWSP

Seasons Greetings from the Austrian Association of Social Workers

2011-12-20T10:33:00.000-08:00

Vienna, Austria December 2011

Wishing you Merry Christmas, Joyous Holidays

and Good Luck and Success for your work

for the coming year 2012

Maria Moritz

President OBDS - Austrian Association of Social Workers

and IFSW -Europe Executive

Seasons Greetings from the Spanish Association of Social Workers

2011-12-20T10:31:00.000-08:00

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM IFSW EUROPE

2011-12-08T09:43:00.001-08:00

Disability Voice 17 | Crisis: all eyes on disability‏

2011-12-01T04:28:00.000-08:00

he EDF monthly newsletter | issue 17|November 2011

Download the Word version of Disability Voice in English | Téléchargez la version française

Editorial ///Crisis: all eyes on disability

'Europe's way out of the crisis: the disability rights perspective'. This is the title for the European Day of Persons with Disabilities' conference on next Thursday 1 December. The European Commission co-organised this event with the disability movement and it will gather hundreds of persons and experts with disabilities. Together with decision makers from the EU institutions they will exchange experiences and identify best practice solutions to deal with the particular effects of the financial and economic crisis.

Our report from the EDF Observatory on the impact of the crisis set the scene. The implementation of national austerity measures without consulting the organisations of persons with disabilities is having dramatic effects. Social exclusion leading to poverty in many European countries, it is now obviously crucial that the EU needs to better steer the social policy of the Member State. We have worked hard with the European Institutions to set up and to improve the EU instruments: the implementation of the UN Convention, the new regulations on the Structural Funds and a promising Disability Strategy. This framework will only be benefit if the EU and the Members States start to work.

Fortunately some projects are already concrete: on Thursday, we are going to award the most accessible cities in Europe for the second time and before the New Year break, many other important events will also be igniting the disability movement. Read the special focus on Disability in Europe on EU Observer website and a special report on accessibility in the Guardian online.

This issue of Disability Voice offers the overview and insight which will hopefully fire up the festive period.

In this challenging time, more than ever, we need to celebrate the international day of persons with disabilities together. Spread the word and message to carry on through to 2012!

Javier Güemes, Acting Director, European Disability Forum

Accessibility

ACCESS AND THE CITY

Accessibility of built environment is a key issue within the disability movement. This paper focuses on three European initiatives that will certainly improve the lives of 80 million persons with disabilities: Access City Awards; the EFC league of Historical and Accessible Cities and Urbaccess.

Read more

Crisis

TO THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Poverty, social exclusion, discrimination, marginalisation, illiteracy and negative stereotypes of people with disabilities can be the sad legacy of the economic, social and political reforms if implemented without duly consideration of the rights of people with disabilities: the European Disability Forum wrote a letter to all heads of State to make sure that the outcome of the summit on the crisis won't have worst consequences on persons with disabiltiies.

Read more

Improvement or not?

CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITY

The Commission adopted on 19 October 2011 a package for new infrastructure policy. It contains a proposal for the revision of important European transport network guidelines (TEN-T) and a proposal for a Connecting Europe Facility. Why are they both positive for persons with disabilities?

Read more

UN Convention

BOARD MEETING IN WARSAW

The European disability movement met in Warsaw for an important board meeting. The Polish government said Poland will ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in the coming months.

Read More

KEEP IN MIND

>ACP - EU: JPA REPORT: THE PARLIAMENTARIANS GIVEN INSIGHT INTO DISABILITY IN AFRICA

On 20th November 2011, EDF Member CBM, together with partners including the Togo disability movement , organised events coinciding with the 22nd session of the ACP-EU (African, Caribbean and Pacific) Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Togo, West Africa. Co-rapporteurs of the report, Catherine Bearder MEP, stated that while many reports are passed by the ACP-EU, this one is unique.

Read more on CBM 's website
Lars Bosselmann's blogs from Lomé as CBM's EU Advocacy Manager attends the ACE-EU JPA

>EVENTS

EUROPEAN DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES CONFERENCE

Europe's way out of the crisis: the disability rights perspective

Save the date: 1st and 2nd December in Brussels.

VODAFONE SMART ACCESIBILITY AWARDS

In June 2011, Vodafone Foundation, together with AGE Platform Europe and the European Disability Forum, launched a unique initiative challenging developers to design mobile applications to improve the lives of ageing people and people with disabilities. The awards will be Followed by reception & buffet dinner

RSVP by 29 November smartawards2011@vodafone.com

The event will be held in English with translation into sign language.

More information click here

WORLD REPORT ON DISABILITY

The World Health Organisation report produced jointly with the World Bank will be presented at the European Parliament on 7^th December with EDF member CBM.

More information click here

>JOBS

Handicap International: Technical Co-ordinator

HI is currently searching for a Regional Technical Coordinator forourbase in Tajikistan. They need someone who has had experience in CBR or disability field, a master in occupational therapy would be great, but at least someone who has had to conduct project in developing countries.

Contact | chuet@handicap-internatinal.org

>MEDIA

-Read here special focus about Disability in Europe on EU Observer website

-The Guardian online report about accessiblity to technology

-Disability Now

EDF President, Yannis Vardakastanis and Executive Board Member, Stig Langvad, both had interviews with Disability Now this month, here's a snippet. Follow the links for the full article.

EDF President talks about Greece and the Euro zone

"Since the economic crisis began, the situation for disabled people here has been a bit mixed. In 2010 and 2011 the disability movement was able to put pressure on the government to keep to increases that had been previously agreed and increase disability benefits."

Read full article

Denmark's 80^th year in the disability movement

"We have a disability movement in Denmark which has been united for almost 80 years. We are very active in trying to influence decisions made by politicians or bureaucrats. No law is going to be passed in parliament without input from the DPOs."

Read full article

Disability Voice is available online in English and French on www.edf-feph.org

European Disability Forum

Square de Meeus,35

1000 Brussels
T +32 2 282 46 00

F +32 2 282 46 09

info@edf-feph.org
www.edf-feph.org

This publication is supported by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - PROGRESS (2007-2013)

Director of publication: Javier Güemes | Editor: Aurélien Daydé aurelien.dayde@edf-feph.org| Contributors: Janina Arsenjeva /// Alex Lawson /// Simona Giarratano | Maria Nyman /// Ewa Pawlowska /// Nadège Riche | Translation to French: Bastin Bérénice Traductions

2nd European Conference for Social Work Research - Registration open‏

2011-12-01T04:24:00.000-08:00

Dear colleagues

We are pleased to inform you that registration has now opened for the 2^nd European Conference for Social Work Research, 22^nd - 24^th March 2012 in Basel, Switzerland. To register please visit on our website www.ecswr.ch.

In order to benefit from the Early Bird Rate you will need to register by 15^th December 2011. The final deadline for registration will be on 1^st February 2012. Places are available on a first come, first served basis and we therefore recommend registering early.

The preliminary program is attached to this email. Any changes will be documented on our website, so please make sure to check this regularly.

Kind regards,

Prisca Herzog

University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW

School of Social Work

Riggenbachstrasse 16

CH - 4601 Olten

Phone: +41 62 311 96 37

Fax: +41 62 311 96 31

mail to: prisca.herzog@fhnw.ch

www.fhnw.ch/sozialearbeit

Press release Domestic violence: How does affect work?//Communiqué de presse Violences domestiques: quelles répercussions sur la vie professionnelle?

2011-11-28T10:16:00.000-08:00

Domestic violence: How does affect work?

Brussels, 23 November 2011 - Victims of domestic violence can face many problems with employment, both for finding and keeping a job. Domestic abuse also incurs a high cost to employers through lost productivity, extended absences and sick leave, and harassment by partners at workplaces or training sites.

The Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union (COFACE) launched a programme to develop training, tools and research with various European partners. The two-year project has now ended and its conclusions and recommendations were reported to a European conference held in Brussels on 21-22 November 2011, where the partners took stock of the solutions and lines of work they had generated.

In his conference introductory speech, the President of COFACE, Yves Roland-Gosselin, gave special thanks to the partners from four European countries – FPS-Belgium, ASF-Spain, KMOP-Greece, WMAV-Bulgaria and the FGTB (Belgian trade union) - for the work done for the 24 month project. As proof that the past 2 years should be a step forward and not an end, he cited three actions flagged up by the Trio of Member States of the Presidency of the European Union (Poland, Denmark and Cyprus) in the final declaration of the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Gender Equality and Family Affairs on 21 October in Krakow.

This conference fell under the EU’s Daphne III programme for preventing and combating violence towards children, adolescents and women, and protecting victims and groups at risk (2007-2013).

- End of press release -

Find the conference programme and full information on the project on our website:

http://coface-eu.org/en/European-projects/Daphne-Project/

25 November 2011 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women Day

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women designated by the United Nations:

http://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/

Violences domestiques:

quelles répercussions sur la vie professionnelle?

Bruxelles, 23 novembre 2011 - Les victimes de violences domestiques peuvent être confrontées à de nombreuses difficultés sur le plan professionnel, tant pour trouver un travail que pour le conserver. Les violences domestiques ont également un coût important pour les employeurs: perte de productivité, congés de maladie et absences prolongées, harcèlement par le partenaire sur le lieu de travail ou de formation.

La Confédération des Organisations Familiales de l’Union européenne (COFACE) a initié un programme de formation, de création d’outils et d’étude avec différents partenaires européens. Ce projet de deux ans s’achève et les et les conclusions et recommandations ont été présentées lors d’un colloque européen organisé à Bruxelles ces 21-22 novembre 2011. Les partenaires y ont fait le point sur les solutions et pistes de travail dégagées par chacun.

Dans son discours introductif au colloque, Yves Roland-Gosselin, Président de la COFACE a notamment remercié les partenaires issus de quatre pays européens: FPS- Belgique, ASF-Espagne, KMOP-Grèce, WMAV-Bulgarie et la FGTB (syndicat belge), pour le travail effectué durant les 24 mois du projet. Illustrant que ces 24 mois ne devraient constituer qu’une étape et non une fin, il a mentionné trois actions prévues par le Trio des Etats membres de la Présidence de l’Union européenne (Pologne, Danemark et Chypre) lors de la déclaration finale de la réunion informelle des Ministres en charge de l’égalité hommes/femmes et des affaires familiales le 21 octobre à Cracovie.

Cette journée était inscrite dans le cadre du programme européen Daphne III visant à prévenir et combattre la violence envers les enfants, les jeunes et les femmes, et a protéger les victimes et les groupes à risque (2007-2013).

- Fin du communiqué -

Découvrez le programme de la journée ainsi que des toutes les informations relatives à ce projet sur notre site web:

http://coface-eu.org/fr/Projets-europeens/Projet-Daphne/

Le 25 novembre 2011 est la journée internationale contre les violences à l’encontre des femmes

Journée internationale pour l’élimination des violences à l’égard des femmes» décidée par les Nations Unies:

http://www.un.org/fr/events/endviolenceday/index.shtml

Contact

Ana Pérez, Communication Officer, aperez@coface-eu.org, +32 2 500 56 93

COFACE – Confédération des Organisations Familiales de l’Union européenne

Rue de Londres 17 B-1050 Bruxelles

Tel: +32 2 511 41 79 Fax: +32 2 514 47 73 Skype: coface-aisbl

E-mail: secretariat@coface-eu.org Web: www.coface-eu.or

A propos de la

La coface est une organisation pluraliste, au sein de la société civile, qui a pour mission de promouvoir la politique familiale, la solidarité entre les générations et les intérêts des enfants au sein de l'Union européenne. La coface promeut une politique de non-discrimination et d'égalité des chances entre les personnes, ainsi qu'entre les formes familiales, et soutient spécifiquement les politiques visant à l'égalité entre femmes et hommes

POLAND: social workers on TV Głęboka woda - Trailer

2011-11-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

Serial / Film about social workers in Poland.

4 December 2011 starts TVP2 movie

series about social workers in Poland!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kyF2vy63r0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlLrXowix0Y

http://zalaczniki.ops.pl/gleboka_woda_banner.jpg

http://zalaczniki.ops.pl/tvp_gleboka_6x3_hires.pdf

http://www.tvp.pl/seriale/obyczajowe/gleboka-woda

Oficjalna strona internetowa serialu: www.GLEBOKAWODA.TVP.PL

Andrzej Gocłowski

social worker, Warsaw, Poland

www.ops.pl

News article about Unison and BASW in UK‏

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

Launch of social work college delayed in row over union closed shop

£5m of government money invested in institution linked to Unison in deal criticised by Commons education committee

David Brindle
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 November 2011 18.14 GMT
larger | smaller

A Unison demonstration against public-sector spending cuts this year. The new College of Social Work has been described as a closed shop for members of Unison. Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian

The launch of a professional college for social work has been called off amid claims that £5m of public money is being used to create a closed shop for the public services union Unison.

The College of Social Work had been due for launch by government ministers next Tuesday, the day before Unison plans to take a lead role in the TUC day of action over public sector pensions, Britain's biggest strike for decades.

After a crisis meeting with Tim Loughton, children and families minister, college leaders have announced that the launch event is being postponed. They are blaming logistical problems caused by the following day's strike.

The college is being set up with an initial £5m in government funding to try to give social work greater professional credibility in the wake of the Baby Peter scandal.

Under a proposed deal with Unison, members of the college would automatically become members of the union unless they asked to opt out. But MPs have intervened to try to stop the deal going ahead.

Graham Stuart, the Tory chair of the Commons education select committee, said his colleagues from all three main parties had been aghast to discover the terms of the deal when they took evidence in response to a complaint by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

"We were collectively horrified to find that government money was being used to start a closed shop for Unison at the expense of other unions which represent social workers," said Stuart. "It's a calamitous mess. It's alarming that ministers have allowed things to get to this position, or were genuinely unaware of what was going on."

The college's launch was due to be attended by both Loughton and the care services minister, Paul Burstow. But the plug was pulled on the event after Stuart wrote and talked to Andrew Lansley, the health secretary, and Michael Gove, the education secretary.

"It's bizarre to imagine that two Conservative secretaries of state are being complicit in the use of public money to create a Unison closed shop for the social work profession," Stuart said.

Unison claims 43,000 members in social work, but there are 128,000 social workers and students in the UK. Under the proposed deal, people would pay £270 to join the college but would get Unison membership – worth £207 – as part of the package unless they asked not to be enrolled in the union. Existing Unison members would pay an extra £60.

A memorandum of understanding between the college and Unison, made public at the insistence of the education committee, states that the £270 fee would be split 50-50 between the college and Unison.

The memorandum adds: "Arrangements will be established to ensure that the College of Social Work is able to influence policy development by Unison and vice versa at the early stages of policy formulation." Stuart branded this an unacceptable compromise of the college's independence.

Leaders of the college say they need to make the deal with Unison to ensure rapid growth for the new body, pointing out that several comparable professional colleges have similar tie-ups with unions in order to be able to offer members a good package of services and support.

Although BASW, which has 14,000 members, says it remains willing to merge into the college, talks over 21 months were dogged by acrimony and ultimately proved fruitless.

Hilton Dawson, BASW chief executive, confirmed that his organisation had given formal notice of seeking a judicial review of the college's tie-up with Unison. "We are quite prepared to push the case along as far as we can because there are fundamental issues at stake," he said.

Maurice Bates, co-chair of the college, said it remained on course to open for business as planned despite the cancellation of next week's launch and the threat of legal action.

"We will not be distracted from delivering one college of social work on 3 January 2012," Bates said.

Update on the situation in Budapest/Hungary

2011-11-28T09:55:00.000-08:00

Read the article and update on the situation in Budapest/Hungary here:

http://www.socialworkfuture.org/index.php/articles-and-analysis/news/195-update-on-hungary-protests

This includes embedded videos and a note about the inaccuracies in the petition.

Social Work Action Network (SWAN) London

Visit the SWAN London blog for latest information: http://swanlondon.wordpress.com/

See report and video of the demonstration in Budapest in October.

http://www.pesterlloyd.net/2011_47/47schweigemarsch/47schweigemarsch.html

(in German)

link to a video about the demonstration on 17.10. 2011 in Budapest:

h http://vimeo.com/32340771 (with English subtitles)

Start protest-emails from all over Europe against the "war against the poor", to the address:

Dr. Kocsis Maté, 1082
Budapest Baross utca 63-67, Tel: 06-1-459-2100.

E-Mail:
kocsis.mate@jozsefvaros.hu

PRESS RELEASE Financial crisis fuels discrimination in Europe

2011-11-18T05:27:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE
Financial crisis fuels discrimination in Europe

A significant increase in the number of atrocities against minorities, such as the Roma, the Sinti, the Travellers, the Ashkali, etc. raises deep concern about the violation of human rights within the European Union. Discriminatory treatment of minorities has been a serious problem for many years and despite official policies to improve the standing of such people the number of attacks on individuals, groups and their cultural identity has significantly increased.

Austerity programs aimed at resolving the global financial crisis have had a disproportionately harsh impact on those individuals and groups who were already most at risk from poverty and exclusion. They have also contributed to a heightened blame culture fuelling discrimination and destroying positive opportunities for the future. EU and member countries must ensure that they have effective measures to combat discrimination and the scape-goating of minority groups.

The crisis within the European Union is not simply a crisis of the Euro or a crisis of finances, it has become a crisis of humanity and of caring for the weakest and most vulnerable groups in society.

Social Workers all over Europe are profoundly disturbed by this negative development and have joined together to raise their voices against the abuse of fundamental rights and the denial of basic entitlement to welfare benefits, housing, clothing, medical and social care and education as a consequence of austerity programs. Poverty is rising fast in many countries across Europe and marginalized people such as Roma, Sinti, Travellers and Ashkali are in the forefront of those who are unable to secure sufficient funds to meet their basic survival needs.

Human Rights are indivisible and every human being is entitled to dignity. It is simply not tolerable that the weakest are being forced to pay such a high price for the mistakes of the powerful and wealthy. Social workers demand measures that:
Save people – not money
Guarantee basic needs – not only bank balances
Uphold human rights – not shareholders dividends
Promote well being – not profit-margins
Celebrate diversity of people and cultures and social coherence in a united Europe

Contact: Nicolai Paulsen, President of the IFSW European Region [International Federation of Social Workers – Europe e.V.]
E-mail: vpeur@ifsw.org

Cell phone: + 45 40 56 19 59

Web: www.ifsw.org/europe

Guide on "Building an inclusive institutional culture"

2011-11-16T15:37:00.000-08:00

English

Dear friends and colleagues, here you have the link giving free access to the electronic version of the Guide on “Building an inclusive institutional culture” in English and French, so you can diffuse it as much as you can, mainly to social workers, mediators, public servants, school teachers, etc.

The Council of Europe will be selling a PDF version (http://book.coe.int).

Français

Chers amis et collègues, voici la lien envers l’accès gratuit au Guide Construire une culture institutionnelle inclusive en anglais et français, et vous pouvez ainsi le diffuser au plus possible, principalement aux travailleurs sociaux, médiateurs, fonctionnaires publics, professeurs, etc…

Le Conseil de l’Europe vendra aussi une version PDF (http://book.coe.int ).

http://issuu.com/councilofeurope/docs/issuu_guide_culture_institutionnelle_inclusive_f

http://issuu.com/councilofeurope/docs/issuu_guide_culture_institutionnelle_inclusive_e

Media release: EDF wants Poland to ratify the UN Convention now‏

2011-11-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

media release

LEADERS OF THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT WANT POLAND TO RATIFY THE UN CONVENTION BEFORE THE END OF THE POLISH PRESIDENCY AND URGE THE EU TO DELIVER ON ITS COMMITMENTS

Warsaw, 16 October 2011 /// The European disability movement met in Warsaw for an important board meeting. The Polish government said Poland will ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in the coming months. The disability movement reminded that the EU had concluded the text a year ago and wants the European Institutions to deliver.

October 15th and 16^th, the board members of the European Disability Forum (EDF) gathered in Warsaw. The meeting was co-organised together with EDF member the Polskie Forum Osob Niepelnosprawnych (PFON): the Polish Disability Forum.

Mr. Jaros³aw Duda, Secretary of State, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, opened the meeting stating, “Poland is ready to ratify the UN CRPD in the coming months.” He said, addressing the demands of the President of the Polish Disability Forum Mr Andrzej Sza³ach.

Mrs. Krystyna Mrugalska, Vice President of the Polish Disability Forum specifically asked for a prompt ratification before December, which coincides with the end of the Polish Presidency of the European Union.

The European Disability Forum urges the ratification and implementation of this Convention by all the EU member states. Thus far, 19 EU countries have ratified, but Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands and Poland have yet to do so.

THE implementATION OF the UN Convention IN EUROPE

The UN CRPD was concluded by the EU in 2010 and entered into force in 2011. The correct implementation in compliance with the Convention is crucial. The disability movement wants the EU institutions to deliver on the implementation respecting the obligations of the text.

Yannis Vardakastanis, EDF President stressed, “It is now time for the EU to go next step on the implementation. The only way forward for the European Institutions is to work in compliance with the UNCRPD. The Convention is clear in the principles and values, the objectives and in the mechanisms. The European Disability movement will be an active player to ensure the respect of the human rights text.”

THE DEVASTATIVE EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS

The EDF observatory on the impact of the economic crisis on the lives of persons with disabilities discloses alarming situations throughout Europe. The board members is more and more concerned on the trends observed and reported in all the EU: the toxic reassessments on social benefits, the cuts in allowances which has led to a huge increase poverty, reduction in local authorities’ budgets, the review of funding resources for the organisations and the austerity measures without consultations of persons with disabilities.

Therefore, the disability movement calls the EU and national governments to ensure that austerity measures respect the rights of 80 million persons with disabilities in Europe.

EDF and PFON meeting benefited from the financial support of the Polish State Fund for integration of persons with disabilities in light of the Polish Presidency of the European Union.

More information on EDF website www.edf-feph.org

More information in Polish on PFON website www.pfon.org

Contact PFON:

Aniceta ¯yciñska, Koordynator ds. Szkoleñ Polskie Forum Osób Niepe³nosprawnych | aniceta.zycinska@pfon.org | T +48 22 654 18 83

Contact EDF

Aurélien Daydé | communication and media officer | T +32 485 64 39 93 | aurelien.dayde@edf-feph.org

The Polish Disability Forum (Polskie Forum Osob Niepelnosprawnych PFON) is the Polish member of the European Disability Forum. PFON represents 4 million persons with disabilities in Poland. The mission of PFON is to to ensure equal opportunities and participation in social life for all persons with disabilities in Poland.

-The European Disability Forum is the European umbrella organisation representing the interests of 80 million Europeans with disabilities. EDF membership includes national umbrella organisations of disabled people from all EU/EEA countries, as well as European NGOs representing the different types of disabilities, organisations and individuals committed to disability issues. The mission of the European Disability Forum is to ensure disabled people full access to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in Europe.

Aurélien Daydé
Communication and media officer
European Disability Forum | nothing about us without us
Square de Meeus 35 | 1000 Brussels Belgium
T +32 2 282 46 04 | M +32 485 64 39 93 | F +32 2 282 46 09
aurelien.dayde@edf-feph.org
www.edf-feph.org

Report on "The role of local authorities in parenting support"‏

2011-11-16T15:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to launch the Eurochild report on “The role of local authorities in parenting support”, that outlines the lessons learned and recommendations from Eurochild’s Family and Parenting Support Thematic Working Group Round Table which took place on 19 and 20 May 2011 and was hosted by the Dutch municipality of Eindhoven and the Netherlands Youth Institute. Delegations from The Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Sweden, Germany and Ireland and observers from Belgium (Flemish community), Italy and Poland attended this Round Table.

On the first day of the Round Table, participating delegations presented their inspiring practice of supporting parents and families. This included the Centre for Youth & Families in The Netherlands, including the SPIL Centres in Eindhoven; the Family Support Hub in Northern Ireland; the Family Centres in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; the New Futures Model from Ireland and a parent support programme for (future) parents in Sweden. The presentations were followed by workshops about several topics, including the role of local authorities and NGOs in parenting support and the implementation and effects of such support. On the second day, all participants went on field visits to two different centres in Eindhoven where parents can go for advice and help regarding their child: a SPIL-centre and the Youth and Family Centre (CJG).

During the field visits and discussions it became clear that the attending countries are all dealing with the same issues and are facing similar challenges, such as integrated working and the need of inventing in early intervention and prevention services. In addition, the importance of positive parenting and the need for “normalizing” parenting support were highlighted. On basis of these lessons learned, recommendations were formulated for providers of parenting support, for local and national governments and the European Commission.

We count on your support to distribute the report widely.

With best regards,

Dr. Agata D’Addato

Policy Officer

Avenue des Arts, 1-2

B-1210 Brussels

T: +32 (0)2 211 05 56 (direct)

T: +32 (0)2 511 70 83

F: +32 (0)2 511 72 98

www.eurochild.org

Eurochild AISBL is an international network of organisations and individuals working in and across Europe to improve the quality of life of children and young people. Its work is underpinned by the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Eurochild AISBL is funded by the European Commission within the PROGRESS Programme.

EDF | 2 jobs available in Brussels office | deadline 17/11‏

2011-11-16T15:02:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

The European Disability Forum offers 2 positions.
Policy Officer

European Parliamentary Officer.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 17 November 2011

Date of the interview: 24-25-26 November 2011

POLICY OFFICER
EDF is seeking a dynamic policy officer with good knowledge on transport, accessibility, gender equality, inclusion and non-discrimination. The ideal candidate is committed to a human rights/social model approach to disability, understanding of social policy in relation to disability policies, able to work effectively in English and French and to assimilate and communicate information. The knowledge of EU policies, EU institutions and procedures will be an asset.

More information on EDF website

EuroHealthNet Press Release - Launch of the European Portal for Action on Health Inequalities

2011-11-16T14:52:00.001-08:00

Brussels, 14^thNovember 2011

PR/2011/20

Launch of the European Portal for Action on Health Inequalities

Today, the European Portal for Action on Health Inequalities – www.health-inequalities.eu - is launched. The new website is an exhaustive source of information on health inequalities at EU, national and regional level, on social determinants of health and on Health in All Policies. It aims to provide visitors with practical and useful information and to give them opportunities to promote their own work.

Health inequities are preventable and unjust differences in health status between different population groups. They are shaped by the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age – the so called social determinants of health. Health inequalities are present in all European countries and evidence shows that health inequalities are currently widening.

Caroline Costongs - EuroHealthNet Deputy Director - highlights that, “especially in times of financial and economic crisis, it is essential to boost those policies that tackle health inequalities. This new Website represents an important tool towards more information about how to combat them”.

It provides visitors over 300 examples of policies and good practices implemented at EU, national and regional level. Additionally it gives access to a wide range of useful health inequality tools and resources.

The European Portal for Action on Health Inequalities was developed by EuroHealthNet on behalf of the Equity Action Programme. This is the EU funded Joint Action on Health Inequalities, which aims to develop knowledge for action on health inequalities, to support the engagement of Member States, regions and other stakeholders and to share learning and action at a European policy level.

Partners of the Equity Action Programme are today in London for their first regional network meeting.

For more information on the European Portal for Action on Health Inequalities, please visit www.health-inequalities.eu or contact EuroHealthNet’s Health Equity Project Officer Yoline Kuipers.

Ms. Ariane Moret

EuroHealthNet

Communications Coordinator

E-mail: a.moret@eurohealthnet.eu

Tel.: + 32-2-235-03-28

Fax: + 32-2-235-03-39

Twitter: @eurohealthnet1

EuroHealthNet is a not-for-profit network of regional and national agencies responsible and accountable for health promotion, public health and disease prevention in Europe. Its aim is to improve the health of European citizens by striving for a healthier Europe with greater health equity between and within countries. EuroHealthNet does that by supporting projects and policy development together with its members and the EU institutions; by exchanging information and by communication in and beyond its network.

Forum pour l'avenir de la démocratie 2010

2011-11-16T12:48:00.000-08:00

European Governments ignore the social and human rights of refugees (in german)

2011-11-16T12:31:00.000-08:00

Europäische Regierungen missachten die sozialen Rechte und die Menschenrechte für Flüchtlinge

IFSW-Europe ist die Stimme der Sozialarbeit für ganz Europa. Der Verband ist über die Reaktion der europäischen Regierungen auf das Flüchtlingsproblem sehr beunruhigt, besonders was die Flüchtlinge aus Nordafrika und dem Mittleren Osten betrifft. Wir fordern, dass sich alle Europäischen Regierungen aktiv an einer humanen Behandlung von Flüchtlingen beteiligen, Menschen, die aufgrund von Terror und Verfolgung nach Europa kommen.

Kein Teil von Europa sollte wegschauen, wenn Menschen auf dem Weg zu einem sicheren Zufluchtsort sterben. Es kann daher nicht akzeptiert werden, dass große Summen für Grenzsicherungssysteme gegen Flüchtlinge ausgegeben werden. Die Europäischen Regierungen verhalten sich darüber hinaus sehr uneinheitlich, was die Beziehungen zu Diktatoren in dieser Region betrifft.

Die Länder Nordafrikas und des Mittleren Ostens befinden sich in einer Periode des Aufruhrs und haben daher keine Kapazitäten, um die Versorgung für eine so große Zahl von Flüchtlingen bereit stellen zu können. In den letzten Monaten sind 400 000 Menschen aus Libyen in die Nachbarstaaten geflohen.

Tausende Flüchtlinge aus Libyen sind in Lagern in Tunesien, von dort gibt es aber keinen Weg hinaus. Immer mehr Flüchtlinge kommen in der Türkei an. Sie versuchen mit Booten nach Italien zu gelangen oder in andere mediterrane Staaten. Dabei ereignen sich oft Tragödien, wenn sie vor Verfolgung Zuflucht suchen.

Europa sperrt seine Grenzen mit der Unterstützung von FRONTEX. Die Flüchtlingseinrichtungen in den mediterranen Grenzstaaten haben ihre Aufnahmefähigkeit längst überschritten, was dazu führt, dass die Lager überfüllt sind und die Menschen gezwungen sind, dort in Verhältnissen zu leben, die den Menschenrechten widersprechen. Zudem konzentrieren sich viele Europäische Regierungen darauf, die Flüchtlinge draußen zu halten, mit dem Ergebnis, dass sie in die Länder zurück geschickt werden, wo ihre Menschenrechte neuerlich verletzt werden.

Wir sind der Meinung, dass gemeinsames aktives Handeln von allen Europäischen Regierungen notwendig ist. Die erste Handlung müsste sein, die Kooperation mit jenen Staaten im Mittleren Osten und in Nordafrika einzustellen, die die Menschenrechte missachten. Menschenrechtsorganisationen berichten, dass Menschen, die zurück geschickt wurden, dort gefoltert und eingesperrt wurden. Während der letzten Woche sind mehr als 1000 Menschen gestorben, weil sie für mehr Demokratie demonstriert hatten.

Wir fordern, dass alle Regierungen gemäß ihrer Verantwortung Verfahrensweisen anwenden, die auf den Schutz der Menschen ausgerichtet sind, um in adäquater Weise auf die Bedürfnisse der Flüchtlinge zu reagieren.

Sozialarbeit ist eine Profession, die auf den Menschenrechten basiert. Daher ist IFSW-Europe der Ansicht, dass die Regierungen sicherstellen müssen, dass SozialarbeiterInnen in die Flüchtlingsarbeit einbezogen werden. Dabei ist es besonders wichtig, dass SozialarbeiterInnen nicht in eine Position gebracht werden, wo von ihnen erwartet wird, die ethischen Grundsätze der Profession zu brechen.

Die Europäischen Regierungen verbreiten ein Klima der Furcht. Dies bestärkt die Menschen darin, sich mehr auf Abwehr zu fokussieren als auf Einbeziehen und darauf, Lösungen finden. Es ist lebenswichtig, dass die Europäischen Regierungen zusammenarbeiten und Wege finden, um der gegenwärtigen Situation von Flüchtlingen positiv zu begegnen.

IFSW-Europe e.V. Executive Committee Malta, 31.7.2011

Contact: Nicolai Paulsen, President of the IFSW European Region [International Federation of Social Workers – Europe e.V.] E-mail: vpeur@ifsw.org Cell phone: + 45 40 56 19 59 Web: www.ifsw.org/europe Barbara Molderings, Treasurer ba.kl.molde@t-online.de

1st International Congress on the Disciplinary Construction of Social Work regarding the new Bachelor's Degree - University of Deusto (Bilbao)

2011-11-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

Dear collegues,

We will include details about 1st International Congress on the Disciplinary Construction of Social Work regarding the new Bachelor’s Degree organized by Faculty of Social and Human Science – Auditorium of the University of Deusto (Bilbao) on 15 and 16 December 2011.

This Congress coincides with the 150th anniversary of Mary E. Richmond who would surely feel proud to see how Social Work has developed during the last century.

The main aim of this Congress is to provide a forum for relection and discussion on the disciplinary construction of Social Work, and to create a favourable atmosphere for the development of future lines of action so that our knowledge as lecturers and/or professionals can be furthered.

This Congress is aimed at university lecturers and professionals in the field of Social Work. Attendees will have translation into English in the papers to facilitate participation.

We expect you can make dissemination to all members.

Our best regards,

Ana I. Lima Fernández
Presidenta– CONSEJO GRAL. TRABAJO SOCIAL
Premio IMSERSO al Mérito Social 2010
C/ San Roque, 4 Local 2. – 28004 Madrid
Tel: (+34) 91 541.57.76-77
consejo@cgtrabajosocial.es

Síguela en:
y @analimaf
http://www.cgtrabajosocial.es

Global Initiative newsletter 18 (October 2011)‏

2011-11-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

GLOBAL INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER 18

(OCTOBER 2011)

Togo state joins the list of those prohibiting corporal punishment in all settings, Zambia achieves prohibition in schools, bills and draft legislation are under discussion in many more countries, a new regional campaign is to be launched in South Asia – these are just a few of the positive developments worldwide included in this 18^th global newsletter. Please read on for details of these and more….

Contents (click on the links for further information)

1. Global progress – New global summary from the Global Initiative; Togo joins the list of states with full prohibition; positive developments in Azerbaijan, Jamaica, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, UK, US, Zambia; not such good news from Australia, Bahamas, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, US; other developments in India and the US; a note on the UK

2. Campaigns and calls for prohibition – New regional campaign in South Asia; national news from Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Finland, Ghana, UK; news from ISPCAN and from the US National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; new resources to support law reform

3. Human rights monitoring – The latest recommendations from the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Human Rights Committee and the Human Rights Council (UPR); reports submitted to the General Assembly; a new handbook on violence against women; information on briefing the human rights bodies

4. Research and reports – Major international report following up the UN Study on Violence against Children; regional report from the Middle East and North Africa; national reports from Afghanistan, Australia, Nepal, New Zealand, Palestine, Panama, UK

5. Media watch – selected news from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, UK, US, Zimbabwe

6. Can you help? – appeals for help with the Global Initiative’s work

1 GLOBAL PROGRESS

New Global Initiative briefing

The list of states which are reforming their laws to prohibit all corporal punishment of children – including in the home – continues to grow. Many more states are enacting legislation which prohibits corporal punishment outside the home, in schools, penal institutions and care settings. But there are too many states where corporal punishment has not been fully prohibited in any setting. Some individual governments even resist reform, ignoring repeated recommendations by treaty bodies and openly defending the legality and use of corporal punishment. Prohibiting all corporal punishment of children: progress and delay (October 2011) is a graphic new briefing by the Global Initiative which summarises both the progress and the delay in achieving prohibition and calls for tougher action, including legal advocacy, to be taken when governments resist reform. A limited number of hard copies is available: email info@endcorporalpunishment.org.

Prohibition of all corporal punishment

Togo: We are pleased to announce that Togo can be added to the list of states which have enacted legislation prohibiting all corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home (though unfortunately not in time for the above mentioned briefing). Explicit prohibition is included in articles 357 and 376 of the Children’s Code (2007) but until now we had been unable to obtain official confirmation from the Government that these provisions were interpreted as prohibiting all corporal punishment, without exception. However, Togo’s 2011 state party reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights clearly state that the prohibition is comprehensive. This brings the number of African states fully prohibiting corporal punishment of children to four and the total number worldwide to 31. For further information, see the following Global Initiative web pages: Countdown to prohibition, States prohibiting, detailed country report on Togo.

Other positive moves

Azerbaijan: A bill which would protect children from corporal punishment has been prepared. The news was announced at a press conference by Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) Elmira Suleymanova, who appealed to the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament for the law to be adopted. (Today.az, 14 September 2011; Trend, 21 October 2011)

Jamaica: Chief Parliamentary Counsel Education Minister Andrew Holness confirmed that education legislation being drafted (the “safe schools legislation”) will “take away the right of the teacher and principal to administer corporal punishment”. (Jamaica Observer, 4 September 2011)

Pakistan: A Corporal Punishment Bill has been drafted and shared with provincial governments and is soon to be tabled in the Sindh Assembly. The Balochistan Government has also agreed to present the bill in the Assembly and a consultation process is under way in Punjab. (The International News, 14 October 2011)

Philippines: The Positive Discipline Bill (House Bill 4455) was passed by the House of Representatives. (Inquirer.net, 13 August 2011). It must now proceed through the Senate.

Republic of Korea: The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced the first draft of the Seoul Students’ Human Rights Ordinance in September. The draft would prohibit corporal punishment and is expected to be submitted to the Seoul Metropolitan Council in November. (donga.com, 9 September 2011)

Sri Lanka: The Women Empowerment and Child Welfare Ministry is reportedly drafting legislation to prohibit corporal punishment in schools, children’s homes and prisons. (Daily Mirror, 2 September 2011)

UK: A free vote on a proposal to remove the common law defence of “reasonable punishment” of children received majority and all-party support in a vote in the National Assembly of Wales. However, the minister responsible for children in Wales, Gwenda Thomas, suggested law reform was unlikely during the current Assembly term, which lasts until 2016. The debate can be read in full in the record of proceedings.

US: A federal bill to prohibit corporal punishment in schools – the Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Bill of 2011 – is under consideration.

Zambia: Corporal punishment is now prohibited in schools. The new Education Act, assented to by the President in April, states in article 28: “(1) A teacher, employee or other person at an educational institution shall not impose or administer corporal punishment or degrading or inhuman treatment on a learner or cause corporal punishment or degrading or inhuman treatment to be imposed or administered on a learner. (2) A teacher, employee or other person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or to both.”

But ...

Australia: Regulations being drafted for daycare included a draft provision banning the use of corporal punishment or “unreasonable discipline” but this has reportedly been dropped in favour of a duty on childcare centres to take “reasonable steps” to “maintain at all times the dignity and rights of each child” and to “have regard to the family and cultural values” (The Australian, 15 October 2011)

Bahamas: Independent candidate Kennedy Craig Butler called for the resumption of corporal punishment as a deterrent for violent crime. (The Tribune, 5 September 2011)

Papua New Guinea: Minister for Community Development and Welfare Andrew Mald suggested that one way to address the current discipline problems in schools is to bring back corporal punishment. (Radio New Zealand International, 29 September 2011)

Republic of Korea: In an interview with The Korea Times, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said that while the ministry had issued guidelines on banning “direct” physical punishment, it was up to schools to make decisions regarding “indirect” punishments: “In the case of punishments to discipline students through physical exercise, like running, the ministry can’t tell the schools what to do and not to do. It’s completely up to the schools to decide.” (The Korea Times, 21 September 2011)

US: The South Carolina Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children endorsed a bill on a measure known as “Kendra’s Law” which provides for training of family childcare home operators and bans corporal punishment – but only if it is not specifically authorised by parents. (Free Times, 21-27 September 2011)

Other developments

India: The Assam Government has formulated rules under the Right to Education Act which include the establishment of a 24-hour helpline for children to report corporal punishment, prohibited in schools under the Act. The helpline is to be accessible by SMS, telephone and letter, and complaints are to be monitored by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The rules provide for the Commission to develop a mechanism for acting on complaints of corporal punishment. (iGovernment.in, 9 September 2011)

US: New legislation passed during the 2011 session of the North Carolina General Assembly, in effect from the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, requires school districts which have not yet banned corporal punishment to send a form to all parents allowing them to exempt their children from corporal punishment at school. An analysis by Action for Children North Carolina revealed that this led to a number of school districts ruling out corporal punishment as an accepted form of discipline.

A note on the UK

A number of media reports claimed that corporal punishment was being reintroduced in schools in England, linking this to the riots that occurred in August, citing polls apparently showing teachers in favour of corporal punishment and even prompting e-petitions and attempts to organise protests. We can confirm that recent Government efforts to address perceived indiscipline among young people did not involve any attempt to reintroduce corporal punishment in schools. While calling for strong discipline in schools the Government is on record as saying there is never any intention to bring back corporal punishment. For further information on corporal punishment of children in England and the campaign to prohibit it in the home see the website of the Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance. For other relevant information see the website of the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children.

Back to contents

2 CAMPAIGNS AND CALLS FOR PROHIBITION

International and regional campaigns

The South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC), comprising representatives from the Governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, representatives of civil society, and children working to end violence against children, is to launch a regional campaign to prohibit and eliminate corporal punishment of children in all eight member states. The Initiative was formed as part of follow-up to the UN Study on Violence against Children. Its first technical meeting on legal reform and corporal punishment was held in Kathmandu in November 2010 at which national action plans to achieve prohibition of corporal punishment were developed. A second workshop was held in September 2011. SAIEVAC’s Governing Board also endorsed a regional progress report to be jointly published with the Global Initiative and Save the Children Sweden at the launch of the campaign in November.

National news

Antigua and Barbuda: Attorney General Justin Simon has called for repeal of the Corporal Punishment Act to abolish flogging of male prisoners. He made the recommendation when presenting the report of Antigua and Barbuda during the Universal Periodic Review in October. However, he defended the law providing for corporal punishment in schools. (AntiguaObserver.com, 6 October 2011)

Australia: The Human Rights Commission of the Australian Capital Territory is pushing for ACT to become the first jurisdiction in Australia to ban parents from smacking their children. Children and Young People Commissioner Alasdair Roy is working with the Australian National University to prepare a discussion paper on the issue, which will include a possible legislative model that would achieve prohibition. The paper will be the culmination of an extended consultation on acceptable discipline for children, outlined in the ACT Human Rights Commission annual report 2010-2011. However, the possibility of law reform was rejected by the office of the ACT Attorney General. (The Canberra Times, 2 October 2011)

EPOCH (End Physical Punishment of Children) Tasmania is holding its annual “Choose to Hug Not Hit” event, including a speech by Moira Rayner of Defence for Children International (DCI) Australia, in Tasmania's Parliament House on 18th November. For more information contact patmalar@hotmail.com.

Finland: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health released its Don’t Hit the Child! National Action Plan to Reduce Corporal Punishment of Children 2010-2015 in English. Corporal punishment was prohibited in all settings, including the home, in 1983, and research shows its use has declined significantly in the past 20 years. The plan aims to continue and accelerate the progress made in reducing the use of corporal punishment, including among children particularly vulnerable to it (young children, disabled children, children of immigrant families). The views of almost 400 children were considered in developing the plan, which proposes to increase support for parents, provide education on children’s rights to relevant professionals and provide information for children at school and online.

Ghana: Defence for Children International-Ghana (DCI-Ghana) is launching a campaign to eliminate violence against girls and young women, including corporal punishment. The “Girl Power” project aims to protect and empower girls by supporting them with social and legal aid over a five year period 2011-2016. DCI-Ghana plans to collaborate on the project with civil society organisations and government institutions. (Ghanaian Chronicle, 7 September 2011)

According to Volta Regional Director of the Department of Children Mr Edwin Gamadeku, the Ministry is working on abolishing corporal punishment in schools. The statement was made in response to calls for its abolition from pupils during a workshop organised by the Ghana NGOs Coalition on the Rights of Children (GNCRC). The children said corporal punishment intimidated them, affected their concentration in the classroom and caused many to drop out of school. (GhanaWeb, 18 July 2011)

UK: The September 2011 edition of the CAU! Newsletter was published by the Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance, covering recent events in England and the growing support for law reform to prohibit all corporal punishment.

And …

The 9^th ISPCAN Asia Pacific Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect was held in Delhi, India, 6-9 October 2011. Representatives from governments, NGOs, networks and institutions, professionals and children from 40 countries reviewed and assessed the challenges posed by violence, neglect and abuse of children, including the persistence of corporal punishment. The resulting Delhi Declaration 2011 confirms the “urgent and immediate need” to “prohibit all forms of neglect, abuse and violence against children in all settings, through honest and accountable governance and by law and its enforcements” (para. 4). It welcomes laws which have been enacted in several countries in response to recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (para. 5) but acknowledges that despite advances “there is denial in some countries about the scale of violence against children and certain forms of violence have social sanction” and that some laws and their enforcement are inadequate (para. 6). The Declaration urges the enforcement of existing laws and review of all laws not in conformity with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (para. 7) and calls on governments to “define, prohibit and criminalise all acts of maltreatment of children in accord with internationally accepted principles and standards” and to “identify, address and correct forms of violence which are socially accepted” (para. 8).

In the US, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) published an official position statement calling for widespread education about the harmful effects of corporal punishment. The statement opposes corporal punishment in homes and schools, defining it as “the use of physical force with the intention of causing a child to experience pain but not injury, for the purpose of correction or control of the child’s behavior” and noting that it often escalates to more serious assault. Instead, the Association supports “alternative, non-violent, age-appropriate discipline strategies”. It supports the prohibition of corporal punishment in schools but falls short of supporting prohibition in the home.

*NEW RESOURCES TO SUPPORT LAW REFORM*

The fifth edition of the African newsletter on corporal punishment was published in August 2011 by the African Child Policy Forum and the Global Initiative, in English and French. To subscribe, email vohito@endcorporalpunishment.org or info@endcorporalpunishment.org.

A new summary of research linking corporal punishment and disability is available; for more information contact elinor@endcorporalpunishment.org.

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3 HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING

Key decisions and recommendations, etc

The Committee on the Rights of the Child issued its concluding observations on states examined at its 58^th session in September/October. The Committee examined the state party reports of Iceland, Italy, Panama, Republic of Korea, Seychelles and Syrian Arab Republic. No recommendations on corporal punishment were made to Iceland, where this form of violence was prohibited in all settings in 2003. A Supreme Court ruling in Italy as long ago as 1996 rendered all corporal punishment unlawful, including in the home, but the ruling has not been confirmed in legislation: the Committee recommended that Italy reform its domestic laws to explicitly prohibit corporal punishment in all settings. The Committee made similar recommendations to the other states that were examined. To Panama, Seychelles and Syria, the Committee specifically recommended that all legal defences for the use of corporal punishment be explicitly repealed. The Committee’s recommendations relating to corporal punishment are available here and are included in the Global Initiative’s individual state reports for Italy, Panama, Republic of Korea, Seychelles and Syrian Arab Republic.

The Human Rights Committee issued its concluding observations following its 102^nd session in July 2011. The Committee recommended that the Government of Kazakhstan take steps to end corporal punishment in schools and institutions and promote non-violent discipline in the family, and that the Government of Bulgaria take the necessary measures to ensure implementation of its prohibition of corporal punishment in the family and other settings. For full details of the legality and practice of corporal punishment, including extracts from the Human Rights Committee’s recommendations, see the Global Initiative’s individual country reports for Kazakhstan and Bulgaria.

The 12^th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of states by the Human Rights Council took place in October. The official records are not yet available. During the previous 11^th session in May, recommendations concerning corporal punishment were made to Belgium (recommendation rejected), Hungary (recommendation accepted), Latvia (accepted), Palau (accepted), Papua New Guinea (accepted), Samoa (accepted), Seychelles (response not yet available), Singapore (rejected), Solomon Islands (accepted), Somalia (response not yet available), St Vincent and the Grenadines (rejected), Sudan (response not yet available) and Suriname (accepted).

In its resolution 65/197, the General Assembly requested the Secretary General to submit a report on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with a particular focus on children with disabilities, to the 66^th session of the General Assembly. The Report of the Secretary General on the Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, dated 3 August 2011, noted the increased vulnerability of disabled children to severe physical punishment as well as to particular forms of abuse inflicted in the guise of “behaviour modification”. It recommended a range of measures to address violence against disabled children, including the introduction of disability sensitive legislation relevant to all settings.

The second annual report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, was also submitted to the General Assembly for its 66^th session. The report places a strong emphasis on law reform to protect children from all forms of violence, including corporal punishment, noting that “where deeply rooted social conventions condone the use of violence as a child-rearing practice or a necessary form of discipline, it is critical to promote a sustained process of advocacy, education, law enactment and enforcement, and evaluation”.

The UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Méndez, produced his interim report for the General Assembly. It focuses on the use of solitary confinement, including its use as a punishment and a disciplinary measure for juveniles in detention, and recommends its abolition.

The UN Secretary General’s campaign UNiTE to end violence against women published a Handbook on how to develop national action plans on violence against women. It presents a model framework for national action plans, together with detailed recommendations and examples of good practice. The handbook does not specifically mention corporal punishment of children but it does recommend that national action plans “recognise and address the multiple and intersecting forms of violence against women” and confirms that violence is experienced “across the life course in different ways and contexts, and many forms of violence against women are also experienced by girls”. It states: “National Action Plans (whether through single or multiple strategic documents) should name and address the different forms and manifestations of violence against women, so that policy can take into account the commonalities and overlaps between them.” The Global Initiative urges those involved in planning to prohibit and eliminate violence against women to recognise that this should include addressing violence that is lawfully inflicted on girls and boys, in the domestic and other spheres, under the guise of discipline.

Briefing the human rights bodies

The Global Initiative regularly briefs human rights treaty monitoring bodies prior to examination of state parties, and encourages national NGOs and human rights institutions to do likewise. The information below concerns briefing the pre-sessional working groups which prepare the lists of issues for each state. We are always willing to advise NGOs and human rights institutions on the practical details of how to submit briefings (email info@endcorporalpunishment.org).

Details of the next meeting of the Committee on the Rights of the Child pre-sessional working group, which decides on the List of Issues to be adopted for each state, are not yet available. Please check the Committee’s website for updates.

The Committee Against Torture pre-sessional working group will be meeting at its 48^th session in May/June 2012. Details of the states for which Lists of Issues will be adopted are not yet available. Please check the Committee’s website for updates.

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights pre-sessional working group will be meeting at its 48^th session in May 2012 to consider the issues to raise in its forthcoming examinations of Azerbaijan, Iceland, Iran, Jamaica and Japan. Briefings on these countries should be submitted by 1 April 2012.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women pre-sessional working group will be meeting at its 51^st session in February/March 2012 to consider the issues to raise in its future examinations of Central African Republic, Bulgaria, Guyana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand and Samoa. Briefings should be submitted by 13 January 2012.

The country report task forces of the Human Rights Committee will be meeting at its 104^th session in March 2012 to consider the issues to raise in future examinations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Paraguay and the Philippines. Briefings should be submitted by 31 December 2011.

The 13^th session of the Universal Periodic Review will take place in May 2012, the first session of the second cycle of the Review. Briefings should be submitted by 21 November 2011 for Bahrain, Ecuador, Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia, Finland and the UK; by 28 November 2011 for India, Brazil, Philippines, Algeria, Poland, Netherlands and South Africa.

*NEW RESOURCES TO SUPPORT NGO ENGAGEMENT WITH HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES*

The NGO Group for the CRC has published two new fact sheets to support NGOs in using the UPR – The Universal Periodic Review: Information for NGOs, which describes what the UPR is and how it works, and NGO Submission for the Universal Periodic Review: Information for NGOs, which explains how to write and submit a briefing to the UPR.

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4 RESEARCH AND REPORTS

International studies

The International NGO Advisory Council for follow-up to the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children published a report marking five years since the final recommendations of the UN Study were issued. Five Years On: A global update on violence against children reveals persisting violence of all kinds against children and calls on governments to strengthen laws and strategies to end it. It pays particular attention to the problem of corporal punishment, acknowledging the growing number of states which have prohibited it by law in all settings but states that progress is far too slow, with the acceptance, legality and prevalence of corporal punishment remaining high across the world. Marta Santos Pais, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Violence against Children, stated that the report “highlights how far we are from safeguarding the right of all children to develop to their full potential in a violence-free environment, as violence remains widespread, socially condoned, and in many cases considered as a lawful practice, form of discipline, or sentencing of children.”

A child rights situation analysis of countries in the Middle East and North Africa highlights the failure of states in the region, with the exception of Tunisia, to prohibit all corporal punishment of children, including in the home and alternative care settings. Some states have enacted prohibition in schools but school corporal punishment remains legal in others, including Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco. Corporal punishment of children is lawful in the juvenile justice system in some states: in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, children can be sentenced to corporal punishment, including flogging. In the occupied Palestinian territories, violence against children in the juvenile justice system by Israeli military and law enforcement personnel is widespread. (Abdul-Hamid, Y. (2011), Child Rights Situation Analysis: Middle East and North Africa, Save the Children Sweden)

National reports

Afghanistan: A report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) presents evidence of torture and mistreatment of detainees in Afghan detention facilities, including children. Treatment of Conflicted Related Detainees in Afghan Custody is based on interviews conducted from October 2010 to August 2011 with pre-trial detainees and convicted prisoners at 47 facilities of the National Directorate of Security and Afghan National Police in 22 provinces.

Australia: In a survey of over 300 young people carried out by the Australian Capital Territory Human Rights Commission Children & Young People Commissioner in 2010, 69% of respondents thought that parents “smacking” their children maybe should or should be banned; 52% said it was “not OK” for parents to “smack” their children, 42% said it was “sometimes OK” and only 2% said it was “OK”. (ACT Human Rights Commission (2011), Children & Young People Commissioner Annual Report Summary 2010-2011)

In an online poll of more than 4,000 people, 85% of parents admitted smacking their children. (Reported in news.com.au, 12 September 2011)

Nepal: A study on barriers to education for children with disabilities in Nepal found that students with disabilities experienced corporal punishment at home and at school, and that this could contribute to the children’s lack of access to education. (Human Rights Watch (2011), Futures Stolen: Barriers to Education for Children with Disabilities in Nepal)

New Zealand: The police have released the results of the ninth review of relevant police activity since corporal punishment by parents was prohibited in 2007. It covers the period 22 December 2010 to 21 June 2011 and results are consistent with previous reviews, with the law being implemented sensitively. Police interventions appear to uphold the principle that any assault on a child is unacceptable in law: the response is mainly to warn offenders or refer them to an appropriate organisation for assistance. Where cases are prosecuted (nine in this period) guilty pleas or guilty findings do not result in harsh sentences; outcomes range from “supervision” to “discharge without conviction” or a requirement “to come before the court again if called upon over a nine month period”.

Pakistan: In a survey carried out by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), 76% of parents were in favour of corporal punishment and believed it was “necessary to correct children’s behaviour”. (Reported in The Peninsula, 7 October 2011)

Palestine: A report on Palestinian children detained in occupied East Jerusalem between January and June 2011, based on the cases of 118 children and the testimony of 16 children, found that children frequently experienced physical and verbal violence by law enforcement officers or military personnel during their arrest or while in custody. Children were punched, kicked, slapped, painfully handcuffed, threatened and verbally abused. (DCI-Palestine (2011), In their own Words: A report on the situation facing Palestinian children detained in occupied East Jerusalem)

Panama: A report on juvenile detention centres in Panama found that inmates were regularly subjected to very severe corporal punishment including beatings, the use of tear gas, being shot with rubber bullets and threatened with rifles. Other cruel and degrading punishments included the denial of family visits and imprisonment in very small cells with little water. The report was based on visits to four detention centres, which together housed 268 juvenile detainees, approximately 82% of the total population of the juvenile detention system. (Harvard International Human Rights Clinic, Alianza Ciudadana Pro Justicia & Asamblea Ciudadana de Panamá (2011), Preventable Tragedy in Panama: Unnecessary Deaths and Rights Violations in Juvenile Detention Centers, report submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for its 57^th session)

UK: Research carried out by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in 2009 and published in 2011 involved 2,160 interviews with parents of children under 11, 2,275 interviews with 11-17 year olds and their parents and 1,761 interviews with 18-24 year olds on their childhood experiences. More than one in four (41.6%) of the parents/guardians said they had physically punished or “smacked” their child in the past year: 39.4% of the parents/ guardians of under 11s and 45.9% of the parents/guardians of 11–17s. The report compares the responses of the 18-24 year olds to those in a similar study in 1998. In 2009, 41% of 18-24 year olds said they had been smacked on the bottom with a bare hand by an adult at home, school or elsewhere during their childhood, compared with 53.1% in 1998; 43% had been smacked on the leg, arm or hand (61% in 1998), 13.4% slapped on the face, head or ears (21.3% in 1998). (Radford, L. et al (2011), Child abuse and neglect in the UK today, London: NSPCC)

And…

Children’s views and experiences of corporal punishment are compiled in a new book, This Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You: In Words and Pictures, Children Share How Spanking Hurts and What To Do Instead, edited by Nadine Block and Madeleine Gomez. The book also includes questions and answers for parents and professionals and a guide to useful resources. All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to non-profit organisations working to end corporal punishment of children and promote non-violent child discipline.

A controversial and provocative article argues that some of the most basic teachings of major religions may have developed in response to the corporal punishment of children. Dr Benjamin Abelow draws on many years of studying the links between childhood and religion to suggest that harsh childrearing practices skewed religious thinking in diverse religious traditions towards themes of sin, obedience and punishment. (Abelow, B. (2011), “The Shaping of New Testament Narrative and Salvation Teachings by Painful Childhood Experience”, Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 33, 1-54)

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5 MEDIA WATCH

A selection of media reports …

Australia: The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act (2006) is being reviewed by a Parliamentary Committee. A submission by the Presbyterian church stated that the Charter could be used to end the common law right to smack children and objected to this, defending the right of parents to smack their children; Australian Childhood Foundation chief executive Dr Joe Tucci argued that it was never right to hit children. In an online poll associated with the media coverage, 92.47% of more than 4,200 respondents felt that parents should have the right to smack their children, with only 7.53% against such a right. (Herald Sun, 24 September 2011; The Advocate, 10 August 2011)

Bangladesh: More than 60 students at a primary school in Madartpur Sadar upazila suffered injuries when their teacher caned them. The school management promised to take legal action if appropriate following discussion with the teacher, students and parents. (bdnews24.com, 26 September 2011)

Canada: A New Brunswick appeal court ordered a re-trial of a man convicted of assault for spanking his 6-year-old child. The original trial judge had ruled that the punishment, inflicted in public, was “unreasonable” since it reached a level of severity which caused the public to complain to the police. The appeal court ruled that this was too subjective a conclusion, but one dissenting judge agreed with the original judgment, stating that if bystanders were sufficiently motivated to call the police it is unlikely that the man’s claims he only inflicted “two or three” blows were true. (National Post, 13 September 2011)

India: Dr Shantha Sinha, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), stressed the need to eliminate all forms of corporal punishment of children during a discussion of the Working Group of NCPCR on Guidelines for Eliminating Corporal Punishment in Schools under the Rights to Education Act. (ABC Live, 10 October 2011)

A stationery shop near a Government school in Kerala continues to stock bundles of canes – and sales are reportedly brisk despite corporal punishment being unlawful in schools. (Deccan Chronicle, 5 September 2011)

A press conference held by the child rights organisation Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham drew attention to the prevalence of injury and fatalities caused by the use of corporal punishment in schools and also high dropout rates due to corporal punishment on the occasion of Teachers Day (5 September) when the very teachers involved are given Government awards. (Express News Service, The New Indian Express, 5 September 2011)

A 15-year-old student required hospital treatment and was unable to stand and walk properly after allegedly being told to do hundreds of sit ups for forgetting to take her book to school; the teacher maintains that he told her to do 50 sit ups. (The Telegraph, 17 October 2011; The Times of India, 18 October 2011). A five year old boy was shackled to a wooden plank at a school in Kosigi for persistently running away from school. The boy collapsed as he walked home from school still dragging the plank. (Deccan Chronicle, 20 October 2011)

The National Advisory Council of the Right to Education Act is to embark on a year long community mobilisation programme, raising awareness of the provisions in the Act, including the prohibition of corporal punishment, and correcting misconceptions. Knowledge will be spread through electronic and print media and through traditional art forms. (Times of India, 10 October 2011)

Kenya: Muslim leaders from Kakamega County have called for the reintroduction of corporal punishment in schools, blaming problems with indiscipline on the removal of the cane from classrooms. (Nairobi Star, 25 August 2011)

Parents of children at a primary school in Kathiani district demanded the removal of the headmistress for caning a pupil until he fainted and his nose bled, despite corporal punishment being unlawful. Police and education officials promised to launch investigations. (Nairobi Star, 22 August 2011)

Malaysia: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stated that Malaysia is not ready to implement hudud law (the imposition of corporal punishments – including flogging and amputation – for certain crimes under Islamic law). Such implementation would require explanation and understanding of these laws to be extended to all people in the country so that they truly understood them, he is reported as saying. The issue was raised by leaders of PAS, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party. (BERNAMA, 22 September 2011)

New Zealand: A book written by US Christian fundamentalists Michael and Debi Pearl which teaches parents how to smack, thump and pull children’s hair as a way of “disciplining” them was widely condemned following complaints that it was being sold in New Zealand, where it is unlawful to hit children in the name of discipline. Following an investigation by the Internal Affairs Department’s Censorship Compliance Unit it was decided not to ban the book. The book generated worldwide controversy when a California couple who followed its instructions were convicted of murdering their 7-year old daughter. (nzherald.co.uk, 25 August 2011; The Marlborough Express, 22 September 2011)

Nigeria: A teacher in Edo State reportedly beat a student with broomsticks for failing her arithmetic test. In the process, the girl’s right eye was irreparably damaged. (Leadership, 15 September 2011)

Pakistan: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of Children (SPARC) held a consultation workshop entitled “Training on Alternatives to Corporal Punishment: Findings and Follow-up Strategy”, in collaboration with Education Department Rawalpindi. The workshop aimed to discuss the prevalence of corporal punishment in schools, follow-up training that had been conducted, and develop a strategy for further reducing corporal punishment in schools. (The International News, 14 October 2011)

A girl was scolded and beaten by her teacher and then expelled from school after a spelling mistake in an exam led to accusations of blasphemy. (The Express Tribune, 25 September 2011). An eight-year-old boy who took a day off school due to illness was on his return slapped, beaten and caned by his teacher until he nearly collapsed and was unable to stand or sit properly. At a meeting held by the local Jirga, the teacher apologised and the father agreed to pardon him. Activists condemned the incident and demanded action be taken against the teacher. (The Express Tribune, 29 September 2011)

Philippines: The Junior Inquirer – a children’s newspaper – organised a “read-along” in collaboration with Plan International Philippines, attended by around 100 children, featuring TV news personality Cheryl Cosim and storyteller Ann Abacan, a school principal. Stories were read to the children on the theme of positive ways to discipline children, and children were encouraged to share their reactions. The event was viewed as a good way to communicate the message to parents that corporal punishment is harmful and to raise awareness of children’s rights. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10 October 2011)

Education Secretary Armin Luistro issued a reminder that corporal punishment is not allowed in public schools, and that persons who inflict corporal punishment can be held criminally liable and be dismissed from service. The Department of Education is developing a comprehensive child protection policy to further strengthen the campaign against violence against children in schools. (InterAksyon, 13 September 2011)

Singapore: A man who attempted to discipline two boys in his care by subjecting them to a strict routine involving extreme physical exercise and corporal punishment, sometimes caning them until they bled, was sentenced to four years imprisonment and substantial fines. (AsiaOne, 11 August 2011)

South Africa: More than 200 cases of teachers inflicting corporal punishment on children have been investigated by provincial education departments in the past 12 months, with more than a dozen teachers being found guilty and given final warnings, suspended without pay and/or fined. Despite the illegality of corporal punishment in schools, these figures are thought to be the “tip of the iceberg” because the majority of pupils and parents do not report such incidents. An investigation by the Sunday Times found that 177 cases had been investigated in the Western Cape alone in the past year; pupils in the province have now received guidelines on how to report corporal punishment and teachers have received guidelines on discipline as part of the “Abuse No More” policy. (Sunday Times, 25 September 2011)

A 10 year old girl lost her sight in one eye allegedly when it was hit by a wooden chip while a teacher caned her brother. The incident is being investigated. (Dispatchonline, 15 September 2011). An eight-year-old boy died from his injuries after allegedly being severely beaten by his grandmother. (iol News, 15 October 2011)

The South African Council of Educators reported an increase in cases of teachers using corporal punishment. Presenting its annual report to parliament, the Council said 440 cases of gross misconduct were reported between April 2010 and March 2011, including 100 cases of corporal punishment. (Times LIVEi, 19 October 2011)

Sweden: Italian politician Giovanni Colasante was found by the Stockholm District Court to have intentionally inflicted pain on his 12 year old son by pulling his hair during a stay in Sweden. He had been arrested when witnesses called the police. A fine was imposed but was waived in consideration of the travel ban that had been in place since the case began. The case sparked debate about corporal punishment in childrearing in both Italy and Sweden. (The Local, 13 September 2011)

Uganda: Despite circulars advising schools that corporal punishment should not be used, it continues to be inflicted on children, even to the point of causing injury. (The Daily Monitor, 19 October 2011)

UK: An investigation into madrassas in England, Scotland and Wales found that 400 allegations of physical abuse have been made in the past three years, including children allegedly being beaten with sticks and other implements. Only ten cases were prosecuted, and only two resulted in convictions. Many madrassas are being opened by unregulated groups, often in mosques but also in other buildings or private homes. (MailOnline, 19 October 2011)

US: CNN produced a two part special video report exploring the case of Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz, convicted of killing their 7 year old daughter Lydia as they followed the controversial teachings in Michael Pearl’s book To Train Up a Child on how to physically punish children, including with the use of a variety of implements. The films can be viewed here: part 1, part 2. Another couple – Larry and Carri Williams – have been charged with homicide after their 13-year-old daughter was allegedly beaten and starved as part of the disciplinary regime associated with the book (Examiner.com, 2 October 2011).

Zimbabwe: A 14-year-old boy was sentenced to 5 strokes of the cane for sodomising a two-year-old boy. (Bulawayo 42 NEWS, 4 October 2011)

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6 CAN YOU HELP?

Promoting positive, non-violent discipline

We are collecting resources for the promotion of positive discipline in homes, schools and other settings for listing on the website. Contact elinor@endcorporalpunishment.org to suggest resources for inclusion. Resources which promote positive discipline as part of a campaign for law reform or which are clearly linked to prohibition that has already been achieved are especially welcome.

Research on corporal punishment of children

Evidence of the nature and prevalence of corporal punishment gathered through national studies is important to keep the issue visible and to assess the effectiveness of implementation of prohibiting laws and of measures to change attitudes and practice. Please let us know of any research studies on corporal punishment that have been carried out recently or that are being planned (email elinor@endcorporalpunishment.org).

And …

Other ways to contribute to the work of the Global Initiative include:

joining our list of volunteer translators
sending us information on laws prohibiting or authorising corporal punishment
letting us know about opportunities for promoting law reform (e.g. if draft legislation is being considered) and when new laws are passed which prohibit corporal punishment
sending us photos and other illustrations of campaigns etc for use in our publications

If you can help with any of the above, please email info@endcorporalpunishment.org.

Back to contents

We hope you find this newsletter informative and useful and welcome your comments: please email info@endcorporalpunishment.org. We are sending the newsletter to supporters of the aims of the Global Initiative and others who we think will be interested. If you do not want to receive future editions, please tell us at info@endcorporalpunishment.org. If your organisation is not listed as supporting the aims of the Initiative, please consider signing up (online at www.endcorporalpunishment.org or email info@endcorporalpunishment.org).

To receive the latest developments between newsletters, please sign up to the RSS news feed at www.endcorporalpunishment.org.

“Children are the only people in the UK who can be hit without consequence. Children should be entitled to the same level of protection as adults. There’s no such thing as a safe smack…. A change in legislation will help shift attitudes and behaviour relating to assaulting children – something which can’t be done while the law condones smacking.”

Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, 17 October 2011

Latest developments of the FRP

2011-11-16T12:03:00.000-08:00

Dear FRP participants,

We are pleased to inform you of the latest developments of the FRP.

- 5^th FRP meeting:

The date for the 5^th FRP meeting is finally fixed. It will take place on 19 -20 April in Vienna. Save this date and please disregard previously announced dates.

The process of selecting topics for the meeting is still on-going in consultation with the Advisory Panel. More information on this will follow soon.

FRP expansion:

As Croatia is about to join the EU, we will be launching the first call for participation for Croatian CSOs as observers, in the forthcoming weeks.

In the same period, as required by the Code of Conduct, the process for renewal of participation for those organisations who have been in the FRP since 2008 will also kick off.

The third call for participation will take place in 2012. The new Multi-annual Framework for the FRA for 2013-2017 will be adopted next year and the expansion will be a good opportunity to line up the FRP with the new areas of work of the Agency. Besides, it won’t overlap with the processes of renewal and expansion to Croatia, allowing enough time for rigorous and smooth processes. It is meant to be a targeted expansion in order to increase balance between the thematic areas that CSOs focus on, the Member-States they are based in and the strands of CS they represent.

More information on this will be shared with you before the end of the year.

FRP Consultations on Multi-annual Framework for the FRA for 2013-2017 and Annual Report:

We would like to thank all of you, who took part in these consultations, in spite of recurrent technical problems with the e-FRP. The FRP Team will send feedback to you on the results of both consultations in November.

The Advisory Panel Meeting report:

The Advisory Panel met on 19-20 September in Vienna. Discussions were mainly on the new Multi-annual Framework for the FRA (2013-2017) (MAF) and the possibility of former third pillar issues to become part of the new MAF of the Agency; on further developments of the FRP, including communication, FRP at national level, cooperation, expansion. The 5^th FRP meeting was also discussed and a presentation on the Annual Report and on the Annual Work Programme 2013 of the FRA were made.

A report will be sent out by end of October.

2011-2012 FRP Framework Document:

In order to have a clear vision of the direction the FRP is taking for the rest of 2011 and 2012, including issues mentioned above, a Framework document is being prepared. It tackles issues such as project-related cooperation between the FRP and the FRA; best use of FRP consultations and feedback to the FRP; further development of the FRA-FRP communication strategy; expansion of the FRP, geographic and thematically and the FRA evaluation.

It will be shared with all participants before the end of the year

With best regards,

Ines Albergaria

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has launched a new report

2011-11-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has launched a new report on ‘The legal protection of persons with mental health problems under non-discrimination law’ today.

This publication analyses how national and international non-discrimination legislation and case law defines “disability” and the consequences of this for the “duty to provide reasonable accommodation” for people with disabilities in employment.

The findings of this comparative legal research show that people with mental health problems in the EU can benefit from the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of disability under EU law.

The research also looked at the duty to provide reasonable accommodation in employment for people with mental health problems. This means, for example, that an employer should consider the needs of employees to enable them to work, such as adapting working hours or some conditions. According to the report, in most EU Member States people with mental health problems can benefit from such “reasonable accommodation” measures at work. Furthermore, some EU Member States are extending these rights to other areas of daily life, such as education and the provision of goods and services, in line with international standards, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Such countries include Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.

The FRA recommends that other Member States consider these examples providing even more comprehensive protection.

The FRA is also looking at conducting research on the actual experiences of people with mental health problems and people with intellectual disabilities. The results of this research will be made available in 2012.

You can find out more about our disability research on the FRA website.

Please find the link to this latest report and web statement for your kind information: http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/FRA-2011-Legal-protection-persons-mental-health-problems_EN.pdf.

We hope that you will find this overview useful.

If you have any questions, we will be happy to provide more information.

Best regards,

Ines Albergaria, on behalf of the FRP Team

Ines Albergaria

Communication & Awareness Raising Department

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

Schwarzenbergplatz 11 A - 1040 Vienna Tel + 43 (0) 158 030 832

E-mail: ines.albergaria@fra.europa.eu

http://fra.europa.eu

Ageing in Dignity: Designing effective strategies for tackling elder abuse

2011-11-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

28/11/2011 - 28/11/2011

Ageing in Dignity: Designing effective strategies for tackling elder abuse

The purpose of the conference will be to take stock of the achievements of recent EU projects related to elder abuse and to exchange views about what needs and could be done at national and European level to protect the dignity and well-being of older people.

Following the 1st European high level conference of 2008 the European Commission is organising again a conference on the prevention of elder abuse.

The number of older people, particularly over the age of 80, will be growing very fast over the coming decades. While most of the over-80s can be expected to be able to live independently, a large minority are likely to be frail and dependent for prolonged periods on help from others, be they relatives or professional carers. They will be vulnerable to neglect or even abuse. Protecting the dignity of these people is becoming a major challenge for our societies.

Registration for the conference

City: Brussels (Belgium)

Address: Centre A. Borschette Building, rue Froissart, room AB-0A

Is social work an act of incitement in Hungary?

2011-11-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

Is social work an act of incitement in Hungary?

Our fellow social worker Norbert Ferencz (Pumukli), member of the Új Szemlélet group represents radical social work, and is now under trial for incitement, a felony punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment!

His „crime” is participating in a vocational demonstration with the Új Szemlélet group, aimed specifically against the municipal ordinance that classified dumpster diving a misdemeanour, whereby he stood up for his offender colleagues and called upon the solidarity of all present. The 8th District Prosecution has recognized this act on Norbert Ferencz’s behalf as incitement against the public peace and a call for general dissent. He is under accusation for a felony.

We hereby invite members of the press and fellow social workers to the trial, as well as the preceding social worker’s oath, and request that you inform the public that in Hungary today, social workers who adhere to the Social worker’s code of ethics and express their professional stance openly are liable to punishment and criminal accusation.

Social worker’s code of ethics (excerpt):

Point 10: It is the social worker’s responsibility, as well as a right and duty of the undersigned professional organizations, to call the attention of decision makers and the general public to their respective responsibility for the emergence of poverty and suffering as well as for their obstruction of the alleviation thereof.

Point 11: Social workers facilitate social change through their activities and professional stance.”

Contact:

ujszemlelet@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ujszemlelet

http://ujszemlelet.blog.hu/

To whom it may concern,

(1.) Please sign and share this petition:

http://swan.epetitions.net/

The story and the contacts are to be found below my signature!

The City Court of Budapest (= 1^st level!) has found our colleague guilty,

and sentenced him to 3 years probation on November 4, 2011.

Please do not hesitate to raise your further questions to me!

(2.) The Regional Social Welfare Resource Centre Budapest moved to a new office. Please find my new e-mail and postal address:

Geza Gosztonyi

Director

Regional Social Welfare Resource Centre Budapest

(Budapesti Szociális Forraskozpont)

H-1052 Budapest

Vaci u 16. II.em.2/a.

Mobile: +36 (30) 354-3747

E-mail: gosztonyi@bszf.hu

Web: www.bszf.hu

Skype: gosztonyi_geza

Charter of Rights for Social Workers

2011-09-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

Charter of Rights for Social Workers

The European Region of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) is pleased to announce the launch of a Charter of Rights for Social Workers and a DVD celebrating their achievements.

Social workers undertake a wide range of challenging responsibilities on behalf of the rest of society including the protection of children and vulnerable adults from abuse. They fight for the rights of individuals and groups who are marginalised and challenge injustice. Yet all too often they do not receive the level of support from their employers and society at large that is required to undertake such an important and demanding role.

The DVD which can be found at: www.ifsw.org/p38002304.html highlights the contribution that social workers make to the well-being of individuals and groups who require support and assistance to overcome the very difficult situations that many citizens face at some time in their life.

The Charter of Rights which can be found at: www.ifsw.org/f38000106.html summarises the support that social workers require to practise safely and secure the best possible outcomes for those using their services.

Further information can be obtained from:

Siobhan Maclean

IFSW European Executive Committee

Email Address:

europe.ifsw@gmail.com

www.ifsw.org/europe

19th August 2011