Director-General's message for World Social Work Day 2025

World Social Work Day 2025
Wednesday, 19 March 2025 at 10.00 a.m.
Online meeting

Message delivered on behalf of the Director-General 
by Ms. Kira Kruglikova, Director, Division of Administration,
United Nations Office at Geneva

Ladies and gentlemen, 
Dear colleagues,

I am honoured to join you to celebrate World Social Work Day and to deliver the message of Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, who could not be with us today. As UNOG’s Focal Point for Disability Inclusion, it is also my pleasure to engage in this conversation on advancing social rights for persons with disabilities.

On behalf of the Director-General, I would like to thank the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) for organizing this event alongside its partners: the Geneva and Fribourg Schools of Social Work, the International Federation of Social Workers and the International Association of Schools of Social Work.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The theme of today’s discussions – “Caring Societies for All: Advancing Social Rights for Persons with Disabilities” – aligns perfectly with our goals here at UNOG. We are committed to enhancing inclusivity across all of our activities. We have made strides in addressing accessibility issues in the workplace and we have measures in place to provide support to staff and visitors with disabilities. 

For example, we have reduced physical barriers by installing tactile guiding strips to aid navigation for persons with visual impairments, adapting surfaces and pedestrian crossings to ensure better mobility. We have offered training sessions for staff to improve understanding of the challenges faced by colleagues with disabilities and organized public workshop and events to raise awareness of disability inclusion.

Enhanced accessibility features for persons with disabilities have also been fully integrated into the renovation of the Palais des Nations under the Strategic Heritage Plan project. These include an extensive network of guiding strips in corridors, push buttons at wheelchair height to open automatic doors to conference rooms, modification of heritage conference tables for persons using wheelchairs, and adaptation of desktop audio visual equipment to give easier access to microphones and electrical sockets. This equipment also now features Braille.

In addition, at UNOG we are working to identify challenges faced by staff with dependents with disabilities and learn how we can better support these staff members. This is important because these staff are uniquely shaped by their care responsibilities. And they do not stop being carers once they are at work. Recognizing and supporting all facets of our staff helps UNOG to foster an inclusive and empathetic workplace.

Furthermore, as the title of this event - "Caring Societies for All” - suggests, caregiving does not fall entirely and exclusively within the responsibilities of family members; it is a shared responsibility within our societies. Social workers have dedicated themselves and their careers to caring for others. They ensure that persons with disabilities, caregivers, and workers alike have access to the resources and assistance they need. They also advocate for both persons with disabilities and their families, helping to shape policies at the local, national and international levels that foster more inclusive and equitable environments for all. I know that all of us here recognize and applaud the immense value that social workers bring to our communities.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This November, the international community will meet in Qatar for the Second World Summit for Social Development, convened by the United Nations. It will be significant global event, one that aims to foster inclusive social development and address key challenges to achieve well-being for all. It will serve as a platform for governments, civil society organizations, private sector actors, and other stakeholders to collaborate on creating policies and strategies that promote inclusivity, equity, and sustainability.

Events like today’s are an important step on the pathway to November’s Summit, helping to raise awareness of the important role of social work, strengthen cooperation and partnerships, and develop inputs for improved policies and actions.

Thank you again to the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and its partners for organizing this event. I wish you all productive and inspiring discussions today, which will help us to build more inclusive and caring societies.

Thank you.