MANILA, March 1 – In the next three days, the Philippines will host the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Social Work Consortium (ASWC) conference in Manila.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman said the conference at the Manila Hotel will gather social work professionals and educators.
“Social work requires global interaction and partnership, and the conduct of the First ASWC urges the need for local and international strategies. Taking off from this, the First ASWC hopes to provide the springboard for an increase in international dialogue, coordination and an enhanced communication in the field of social development, human services and social welfare,” Soliman said.
The DSWD said new strategies coupled with coordination are needed to deal with the present cross-cutting and multi sectoral issues being addressed in the field of social work.
Participants at the conference from March 1 to 3 will formalize the organizational details of the ASWC and identify the status of the Social Work practice and education in the region.
The ASEAN secretariat, along with ASEAN delegations and representatives from ASEAN countries will also identify current trends and country profiles in the region.
For its part, the DSWD, the focal agency of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development, is working in partnership with various agencies including the chairperson of the ASWC Technical Working Group and National Association of Social Work Educators, Inc.
The conference is timely with the upcoming celebration of the annual World Social Work Day on March 15, 2011, which focuses on the contributions of social work to society and the challenging social conditions worldwide.
The theme for World Social Work Day 2011 is “Social Work voices responding to global crisis: Together we develop the agenda.” (PNA)
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