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Sven Hessle (ed.) (2014), Human Rights and Social Equality: Challenges for Social Work, Social Work-Social Development Volume I . Surrey : Ashgate . £60.00, pp. 216, hbk.
Sven Hessle (ed.) (2014), Environmental Change and Sustainable Social Development, Social Work-Social Development Volume II . Surrey : Ashgate . £60.00, pp. 196, hbk.
Sven Hessle (ed.) (2014), Global Social Transformation and Social Action: The Role of Social Workers, Social Work-Social Development Volume III . Surrey : Ashgate , £60.00, pp. 264, hbk.
These three volumes present selected papers from the July 2012 'Social Work and Social Development 2012: Action and Impact' conference jointly hosted by the International Associations of Schools of Social Work, International Council on Social Welfare and International Federation of Social Workers in Stockholm.
Volume I highlights human rights and social equality as key agendas for social work today. This general theme is emphasized by Swedish human rights activist Thomas Hammarberg who argues that more equal and cohesive societies are most conducive to protecting the principles and norms of human rights. However, South African social work academic Vishanthie Sewpaul cautions that in order to be effective human rights advocates, social workers need to move beyond micro practice with individuals and small groups to engage in macro political activism that challenges unfair economic structures.
Further chapters apply these human rights criteria to specific practice areas. Some of the issues covered include partnering with people with a disability to facilitate inclusion, progressing active and dignified ageing and the prevention of abuse of older people, promoting a systemic and holistic approach incorporating community development ideas to protecting children at risk, dealing with aggressive parents in child protection work, assisting vulnerable young people, combating violence against women, supporting equal rights for lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and opposing discrimination, facilitating...