PalUK
The Palestine-UK Social Work Network (PalUK) developed from contacts between social workers in Palestine and the UK facilitated by Palestine solidarity activity. In 2011, members of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) visited Palestine and met with colleagues from the Palestinian Union of Social Workers and Psychologists (PUSWP), in Jerusalem and across the West Bank. A part of the context of this visit was the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development, which had been launched at the previous year’s Joint Social Work World Conference.
PalUK was launched in 2012 as an independent network of social workers and supporters. Its aims are set out in the following statement, agreed in 2016, and written in both English and Arabic.
Statement of aims
The Palestine-UK Social Work Network UK brings Palestinian and UK social workers together to actively further human rights and social justice for the Palestinian people, by:
¥ Promoting awareness amongst social workers in the UK of the issue of Palestine, the oppression of the Palestinians, and the experiences of Palestinian social workers
¥ Sharing knowledge and expertise for the benefit of social work practice in both countries
¥ Using our social work knowledge to increase awareness amongst the general population in the UK of social issues faced by the Palestinians, in particular those caused by the Israeli occupation
¥ Challenging discriminatory policies and practices towards the Palestinians
¥ Supporting the Palestinian civil society call in 2005 for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel until it complies with international law and universal principles of human rights.
تسعى رابطة العمل الاجتماعي البريطانية -الفلسطينية في بريطانيا على التقريب بين الاخصائيين الاجتماعيين الفلسطينين والبريطانيين وذلك للعمل سويا وبشكل فعال للمضي قدما في تطبيق حقوق الانسان والعدالة الاجتماعية للشعب الفلسطيني عن طريق:
- نشر الوعي بين الاخصائيين البريطانيين في بريطانيا حول القضية الفلسطينية والظلم الذي يتعرض له الفلسطينيون وتجارب الأخصائيين الاجتماعيين الفلسطينين.
- مشاركة المعرفة والمهارات بما يحقق الفائدة في ممارسة العمل الاجتماعي في كلا البلدين.
- استخدام معرفة الطرفين في مجال العمل الاجتماعي لزيادة الوعي لدى الرأي العام في بريطانيا حول القضايا الاجتماعية التي يواجهها الفلسطينيون وخصوصا تلك التي يسببها الاحتلال الإسرائيلي.
- تحدي سياسات وممارسات التمييز بحق الفلسطينين.
- دعم نداء المجتمع المدني الفلسطيني في عام ٢٠٠٥ لمقاطعة إسرائيل وسحب الاستثمارات منها وفرض عقوبات عليها حتى تنصاع هذه الأخيرة إلى تطبيق القانون الدولي والمبادىء العامة لحقوق الانسان.
Child Prisoners Campaign
PalUK launched this campaign at the SWAN Conference in April 2019. The aims of the campaign are set out in our petition – please do sign this if you are a social worker or social care worker (including retired workers), social work student or academic, based in the UK.
Our aim is to gain 1000 signatures, at which point we will send the petition to the relevant authorities in the UK, asking them to raise this with their counterparts in Israel; and to the Israeli Union of Social Workers.
As fellow social workers, we want to call on the Israeli Union of Social Workers to speak out and use their influence with regard to human rights abuses of Palestinian children under Israeli military control and jurisdiction.
Download the campaign postcard and please share with your colleagues.
T-shirts
If you want to buy a campaign t-shirt, email us at palukswnetwork@gmail.com. Only £10!
We also have Palestinian keffiyehs for sale at £10.
Visiting Palestine
PalUK has organised visits by social workers to Palestine, the latest one being due to take place in October 2019. Email us at palukswnetwork@gmail.com if you are interested in joining a visit to Palestine.
Contact
If you wish to hear more about PalUK, to become involved or just to be kept informed of our activities, write to us at palukswnetwork@gmail.com
Social media
We also have a Facebook group and page that you can join and like, and a Twitter account – @PalUKSW
Meetings
If you want someone from the network to come and talk at a meeting at your workplace, or at your Union or BASW branch, let us know.