The Social Work Action Network (SWAN) is a radical, campaigning alliance of social work practitioners, service users, educators and students committed to social work for social justice.
We fully support Hong Kong citizens in their struggle for democracy and political rights and in their opposition to attempts by the Chinese government to impose vetted candidates in forthcoming elections.
In recent days protests organized by Occupy Central have brought the financial district of Hong Kong to a standstill and shown great courage and determination in resisting attacks by riot police, with people protecting themselves from tear gas and pepper spray with umbrellas. We condemn the violent actions of the Hong Kong police, and call on the British government to revoke licences for exports of the British-made tear gas that is being used against protestors in Hong Kong.
We welcome the news that one thousand Hong Kong social workers and social work students gathered in solidarity with the protests earlier this week. We also fully support strike action by social workers, teachers and other Hong Kong workers against police brutality and for democratic and political rights.
SWAN National steering committee
2 October 2014
