Seasons Greetings from the Icelandic Association of Social Workers and IFSW European Conference 2017

Seasons Greetings from the Icelandic Association of Social Workers and IFSW European Conference 2017

The Icelandic Association of Social Workers wishes you a merry christmas and a happy new year 2016 and hope that it will be a successfull year for all social workers.

We are very happy to welcome you to the IFSW European Conference in 2017 that will be held in Iceland on the 28th-30th of May 2017.

We have launched a website for the conference where you can find all the important dates, information on how to travel to Iceland and introduction videos on Iceland and Reykjavik City:
http://ifsweurope2017.yourhost.is/
We have also opened a Facebook Page for the website that we encourage you to like and follow:
https://www.facebook.com/IFSW-European-Conference-2017-198849847125422/?ref=hl
IFSW European Conference 2017
www.facebook.com
IFSW European Conference 2017, Reykjavík, Iceland. Welcome to Reykjavík to the IFSW European Conference 28 – 30 May 2017

Merry Christmas!
Kær kveðja,
María Rúnarsdóttir,
President of the Icelandic Association of Social Workers

Seasons Greetings‏ from the Executive Committee of IFSW Europe

50 Years of IFSW Europe (1965-2015)‏

This year - 2015 - IFSW Europe celebrates 50 years!

A Special Session “Socializing in IFSW Europe – IFSW Europe celebrates 50 years supporting social workers” took place at the conclusion of Day 2 of the European Delegates Meeting in September 2015 in Edinburgh.

Delegates enjoyed a nostalgic and stimulating presentation from Herbert Paulischin, former President of IFSW Europe, about the history of IFSW Europe over its 50 years highlighting achievements, prominent individuals and how the Federation has grown and developed over the years. 
Ana Radulescu, former Honorary Secretary of IFSW Europe, and members of the ASproAS from Romania supported his presentation with an exhibition. 

A toast with Armenian brandy, gently offered by our colleagues from Armenia, Mira Antonyan and Manane Petrosyan, was made to IFSW Europe as celebration and memories were shared by all the delegates.

Please see the photo from the moment.

Thanks to IFSW Europe's designer Maria Mónica for the design of the photo.

Executive committee of IFSW Europe e.V. in Edinburgh, Scotland - September 2015

Message in solidarity with the Russian people following the plane crash

Message in solidarity with the Russian people following the plane crash

The International Federation of Social Workers, European Region expresses its sympathy and condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones in the crash of the Russian airplane on the 31st of October where 224 people lost their lives so tragically, children and their parents travelling home from their holidays.

Antonina Dashkina, President of the Russian Union of Social Pedagogues and Social Workers has advised us of the important work social workers are continuing to carry out for those directly affected by this terrible tragedy. In her words “Social workers from 15 regions of Russia are in the process of working with families now - DNK, morgues, confines, funerals - they deal with this all”.

Social workers are trained in supporting people in the most difficult situations and crisis in their lives and IFSW Europe expresses solidarity with our Russian social work colleagues who are now supporting and assisting the families of the victims in times of great grief and sorrow. 

In Solidarity,

IFSW Europe Executive Committee

18th November 2015

Message to our French colleagues following the terrorist attacks in Paris

Message to our French colleagues following the terrorist attacks in Paris

We are in deep shock following the terrorist attacks that took place last Friday (13/11) in the city of Paris, France.

We express our solidarity with the Parisian people and the whole of France.

Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.

We are hoping that all our friends and French colleagues in ANAS, Association Nationale des Assistants de Service Social, are unharmed.

As social workers, we can only reinforce the belief that solidarity and democracy are the answers to a peaceful coexistence of humanity locally, regionally and globally.

In Solidarity,

IFSW Europe Executive Committee

16th November 2015

Message in Solidarity and Call for urgent support for burn victims of Bucharest fire accident

Message in Solidarity and Call for urgent support for burn victims of Bucharest fire accident

On October 31, 2015 a fire engulfed a night club in Bucharest, Romania killing 27 people immediately and injuring hundreds. Since then the death toll has risen to more than 50. IFSW Europe wishes to extend our sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families. 

We also wish to express our solidarity with our Romanian social work colleagues who are caring for the families of those victims still hospitalized. In times of tragedy social workers provide the emotional and practical support the families need to continue functioning.  Social workers are trained to assess and respond to changing needs. These needs might include help with administrative issues, mediation with hospital personnel and the concrete needs of families who are away from their homes for long periods: accommodation, food, clothing, etc.

The large number of victims has created a unique situation requiring international social work cooperation.  The Rumanian health administration started some days ago to transfer patients to different specialized clinics all over Europe because they cannot provide adequate treatment for so many cases.  This may be is the only chance for at least some of the victims to survive.

Those patients going to other countries are accompanied by one family member at government expense. The Romanian authorities take care of many organizational problems, but these family members need individual, local social work support - somebody who is available for them during the crisis situation, who answers their questions, helps them immediately with everything they need while staying with their relatives.

In Bucharest, the Association Pro Social Work - ASproAS has set up a team of social workers to support the relatives in the hospitals and outside. The Romanian association has contacted the member IFSW associations in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, UK and Israel and asked that they make sure that local, medical social workers are helping those family members who are in a strange country and probably don't speak the language.  Our Romanian colleagues are then able to provide updates to the family members in Romania. 

ASproAS still needs contact persons in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Norway to help care for the families of the victims hospitalized there. It is preferable for medical social workers to be the contact person or, at least, to be able to identify the appropriate social workers in the hospitals that have accepted the Romanian fire victims. 

IFSW Europe calls to our member organizations and national associations of social workers from these countries to connect directly with ASproAS (asproas2013@gmail.com) in order to provide the best support to the patients and their families.

IFSW Europe Executive Committee, 14th November 2015

Message in Solidarity with the Turkish people following the brutal attack on peace demonstration

Message in Solidarity with the Turkish people following the brutal attack on peace demonstration

The International Federation of Social Workers, European Region sincerely regrets the brutal attack that occurred in Ankara, Turkey on the 10^th October, during the demonstration of peace and expresses solidarity to people in Turkey in this moment of great pain and grief.

This terrifying and senseless bomb attack left more than 100 people dead and hundreds injured and we wish to express sympathy to all those who are now recovering from the trauma of having witnessed friends and colleagues being killed whilst engaging in a peaceful demonstration for a better world.

As Social Workers we condemn all types of violence and stand shoulder to shoulder with people struggling for a better life and peaceful future where everybody’s rights are respected and policies are inclusive.

We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who have fallen victim to this terrible tragedy for the Turkish nation.

Our thoughts are also with our social work colleagues in Turkey who are making every effort to support people in grief during this very difficult time of instability and post trauma.

In Solidarity,

IFSW Europe Executive Committee

14th October 2015

IFSW European Conference & Social Services Expo 2015

DELEGATES MEETING for IFSW Europe e.V. 4 – 6 September 2015

DELEGATES MEETING for IFSW Europe e.V.

4 – 6 September 2015

Edinburgh, Scotland

Venue: Grassmarket Community Project Centre, 86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QA http://grassmarket.org/centre/

Friday 4^th September
First day of Delegates’ Meeting - Time: 1400 - 1700

IFSW Europe e.V. will host a dinner for Delegates on Friday 4^th September 2000

Saturday 5^th September
Second day of Delegates’ Meeting 0900 - 1700

Socializing in IFSW Europe – IFSW Europe celebrates 50 years supporting social workers on Saturday 5^th September 1700

Sunday 6^th September
Final day of Delegates’ Meeting 0900 – 1300

PRELIMINARY AGENDA

First day of Delegates’ Meeting - Time: 1400-1700

1.    Welcome and Formalities

1.1.  Welcome and presentation from the British Association of Social Workers

1.2.  Approval of the agenda and timetable   

                                                              

2.    Minutes of the Delegates Meeting 2014                          

2.1.  The DM held in Madrid, Spain on 16-18 May 2014     

To receive the minutes, consider any amendments and approve

3.    Matters arising from the minutes

      To consider any matters not otherwise on the agenda

4.    Presentation of the Executive Committee's written report for approval; report from the Executive Committee and presentation of a draft Work Programme for the coming period

The work programme is presented devised in the following areas:                  

4.1.  Communication and European Social Platform Comms

4.2.  IFSW European Conference 2015 and IFSW European Conference 2017

4.3.  Project: Economic Crisis in Europe- Challenge and Response of Social Work Profession

4.4.  Ensact/ European Observatory/ Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development

4.5.  Connecting members Project/ Membership Development/ Review of Membership in IFSW

4.6.  The Social Work Role and Identity Project

4.7.  The Development of Social Work in New Social Work Countries

4.8.  Finances and Legal Body Maintenance

        To report, discuss and recommend for the future

Second day of Delegates’ Meeting 0900-1700

5.    Reports from internal and external representatives of IFSW Europe

5.1.  Council of Europe

5.2.  Human Rights

5.3.  Ethics

5.4. EU Issues and Coordination of IFSW Europe input to the European Social Platform, the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP) and  European Organisation of Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) (break out session)

5.5. ENS4Care Project

6.    Report from the IFSW President and Secretary General (IFSW Global)     

To receive a report

7.    Consideration and amendments to the Articles and Bylaws of IFSW Europe

7.1.  There are no proposed amendments to the Articles

7.2.  Amendments to the Bylaws, if any

7.3.  To consider any proposals for amendments to be voted on in 2016

8.    European Conferences

The IFSW European Conference 2015 in Edinburgh, Scotland 6-9 September 2015

The IFSW European Conference 2017 in Reykjavík, Iceland 28-30 May 2017

9.    Consideration of any other proposals

9.1. Statements

9.2. Delegates Meeting 2016

9.3. Other proposals

Final day of Delegates’ Meeting 0900-1300

10. Final adoption of the Work Programme 2015-16                                               

            To discuss proposals and to approve the work programme

11.  Approval of the annual accounts and the report of the auditors     

11.1.Report from the Honorary Treasurer, including the accounts for 2014      

11.2.                 Report from the auditor                                                                                                                        

12. Ratification of the general and financial policies of IFSW Europe e.V.

12.1.               Decision on the annual membership dues (regional fees)           

12.2.Review of activities and accounts of IFSW Europe e.V.

12.3.Appointment of an independent auditor

13. Elections

13.1. Election of members of the Executive Committee

Two members are elected in even years, based on nominations

                             

14.  Appointment of external and internal representatives of IFSW Europe e.V.

14.1.    Representative of IFSW Europe e.V. to Council of Europe – and a support team for the appointed person

14.2.    An IFSW European contact person to the Global Human Rights Commission – and a support team for this person

14.3.    An IFSW European contact person to the Global expert group on Ethics – and a support team for this person

14.4.    IFSW Europe e.V. Election Officer. The European Elections Officer is a European appointment just for European elections within the frames of the IFSW European Delegate Meeting

14.5.    IFSW Europe e.V. Representative for the European Social Platform and a support team for this person, designated as the Social Platform Team. This includes working with the European Social Platform, the European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN), the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP) and the European Organisation of Rare Diseases (EURORDIS)

14.6.    IFSW Europe e.V. Representative for the ENS4Care Project and a support team for this person

15. Any other business

            To consider any additional business approved by the meeting

            To close the meeting

2015-07-05 Executive Committee of IFSW Europe e.V.