Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI)’s withdrawal from the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) (External communication)

Dear Friends and Colleagues

The Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI), after considered deliberations, has decided to withdraw its membership from the IASSW with good reasons as you will note from the correspondence – see the attached. [The correspondence that can be accessed from the ASASWEI includes letters by ASASWEI President Professor Mpumelelo Ncube to IASSW and to members as well as a response by the IASSW Professor President Antoinette  Lombard].

Apart from these correspondences some of us have repeatedly written to IASSW about our global SW body failing to live up to the ethical requisites of the profession.  It is unconscionable that, despite the genocide, neither the IASSW nor the Israeli Schools and Departments of Social Work have broken their silence.   This and the claim to neutrality means complicity.  It is disconcerting that the Israeli Schools and Departments of SW remain on the board of IASSW with full retention of their privileges.  Formal motions that were submitted by some IASSW Board members were ignored.  The Social Work Action Network, International (SWAN, International), have over a decade ago, tried to get the IASSW to live up to its human rights and social justice commitments in respect of Israeli settler occupation, and the atrocious apartheid treatment of Palestinians.

ASASWEI and SWAN, South Africa are asking other regional and national bodies and individual Schools/Departments of Social Work to join ASASWEI in holding IASSW and the Israeli Schools and Departments accountable. 

Please support ASASWEI by re-considering your school’s/department’s membership – if it is a member of IASSW – and by disseminating as widely as possible. 

Best wishes

Vishanthie