World Social Work Day 2019 - Social Work, Gender and Sexuality: Towards Empowerment, Equality and Inclusion

Mesdames et Messieurs :
Chers collègues :

C’est un grand plaisir pour moi d’être ici avec vous aujourd’hui à l’occasion de la Journée internationale du travail social 2019.

Tout d’abord, j’aimerais remercier chaleureusement l’Institut de recherche des Nations Unies pour le développement social (UNRISD) ainsi que ses partenaires locaux et internationaux impliqués encore une fois dans l’organisation de cet événement important à Genève.

We have come together today to do three things above all else:
̶ First, to raise awareness and celebrate the critical work of social workers across the world.
̶ Two, to strengthen the connections between us – between practitioners, activists, researchers, and policymakers.
̶ And finally, to build on these connections and learn from each other in our collective efforts to make the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a reality.

All of which is why it is so fitting that we are celebrating World Social Work Day here in Geneva.
Geneva is the operational heart of the international system, with a sprawling ecosystem of international organizations, NGOs, universities and businesses. It is this rich environment that makes this city so good at transcending old divides and forging new synergies.

Speaking about transcending old divides and forging new synergies, let me commend you on this year’s theme, namely “Gender and Sexuality: Towards Equality and Inclusion”.

Thanks in large part to the relentless efforts of women’s rights advocates from across the globe, the 2030 Agenda’s commitment to gender equality is prominent, comprehensive and cross-cutting.

And while we can celebrate tremendous progress in the fight for women’s rights and gender equality - with gaps in education closing across the world, with women increasingly holding key positions of power - we also know that this progress is neither fast, nor broad enough.

Doors of economic opportunity remain closed. Glass ceilings persist.

In the North and the South, untold women and girls still face insecurity, violence and other violations of their rights every day.

And LGBTQI+ people around the world still face incredible isolation and poverty, persecution and violence, and even death.

All for simply wishing to be who they are.

In too many countries, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people are among the poorest, most marginalized members of society.

For individuals and their families, this is a personal tragedy. And for society, it is a shameful, outrageous waste of human talent, ingenuity and potential.

To fight for their full inclusion, for full equality - those are foundational objectives for the world we want to live in.

And that’s why it’s everyone’s responsibility to get involved.

The great gay civil rights activist, Bayard Rustin, once said, “We need in every community a group of angelic troublemakers.”

And I know there are such people among us today, people who aren’t afraid to ruffle feathers in the name of justice and equality until we extend the full promise of the 2030 Agenda to every single one of us.

The challenges may be global, but the solutions are local. This is why social workers are so crucial: you are on the ground where it counts most, working most directly to fulfill that most essential promise of the SDGs: to “leave no one behind.”

The UN is proud to be your partner. And so am I.

Thank you again for being here – and all the best for your discussions.