Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional Practice
This article intends to demonstrate the interconnections between exposure, engagement, human rights (HRs) lens, and methods in social work. To achieve these aims, we used HRXSW, HRESW, HRLSW, and HRMSW index scales to carry out a survey amongst Portuguese social workers. This survey was sent to 4079...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Maria Irene Carvalho Cristina Albuquerque Pedro Borrego |
| author_facet | Maria Irene Carvalho Cristina Albuquerque Pedro Borrego |
| author_sort | Maria Irene Carvalho |
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| description | This article intends to demonstrate the interconnections between exposure, engagement, human rights (HRs) lens, and methods in social work. To achieve these aims, we used HRXSW, HRESW, HRLSW, and HRMSW index scales to carry out a survey amongst Portuguese social workers. This survey was sent to 4079 registered members (100%) of the Portuguese professional association, of which 259 were valid responses (6.3%). The results of this pilot study show that professionals are exposed to HR in the education system and in the professional practice and that the level of engagement with HR is strong. Professionals revealed that social problems and rights violations played a prominent role during their practices with clients; however, contradictions are noticed in relation with intervention methods. Their methods are mostly informed by individual rights and personal empowerment, collaboration, and accountability and, to a lesser extent, by non-discrimination, micro and meso approach, and activism. We conclude that professionals have the knowledge and courage to consolidate and promote HR; however, in order to advocate for and promote structural social changes that lead to the full realization of an HR utopia, they need to use methods based on structural and collective approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b202c872f9cb408b90726750201f4b5a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-b202c872f9cb408b90726750201f4b5a2025-01-24T13:49:40ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602025-01-011411410.3390/socsci14010014Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional PracticeMaria Irene Carvalho0Cristina Albuquerque1Pedro Borrego2Department of Social Work and Social Policies, Centre for Public Administration and Public Policies, Institute of Social and Political Sciences—ISCSP, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua Almerindo Lessa, 1300-663 Lisbon, PortugalFaculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Coimbra, 3000-186 Coimbra, PortugalCentre for Public Administration and Public Policies, Institute of Social and Political Sciences—ISCSP, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua Almerindo Lessa, 1300-663 Lisbon, PortugalThis article intends to demonstrate the interconnections between exposure, engagement, human rights (HRs) lens, and methods in social work. To achieve these aims, we used HRXSW, HRESW, HRLSW, and HRMSW index scales to carry out a survey amongst Portuguese social workers. This survey was sent to 4079 registered members (100%) of the Portuguese professional association, of which 259 were valid responses (6.3%). The results of this pilot study show that professionals are exposed to HR in the education system and in the professional practice and that the level of engagement with HR is strong. Professionals revealed that social problems and rights violations played a prominent role during their practices with clients; however, contradictions are noticed in relation with intervention methods. Their methods are mostly informed by individual rights and personal empowerment, collaboration, and accountability and, to a lesser extent, by non-discrimination, micro and meso approach, and activism. We conclude that professionals have the knowledge and courage to consolidate and promote HR; however, in order to advocate for and promote structural social changes that lead to the full realization of an HR utopia, they need to use methods based on structural and collective approaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/1/14social workhuman rightsexposureengagementlensmethods |
| spellingShingle | Maria Irene Carvalho Cristina Albuquerque Pedro Borrego Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional Practice Social Sciences social work human rights exposure engagement lens methods |
| title | Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional Practice |
| title_full | Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional Practice |
| title_fullStr | Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional Practice |
| title_short | Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional Practice |
| title_sort | social work and human rights uncrossed paths between exposure engagement lens and methods in professional practice |
| topic | social work human rights exposure engagement lens methods |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/1/14 |
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