Global Social Work Midterm Question 2
2. Now imagine you are a Global social worker working as a leader with the U.N. like Professor Ruskus and Professor Leinarte, or working for an NGO like “Fight for Rights” for persons with disabilities in Ukraine. Apply the many lessons you learned from the multi-media campaign for the liberation of Vieques from the U.S. Navy using the town as a bombing trial site. What would be your strategic plan to remedy the dehumanization you described in your answer to “1” above?
Global social work midterm quastion 2.
ReplyDeleteUrgent medical assistance should be provided to residents who may be injured or ill. this can be done by involving local medical facilities , doctors or paramedics. Organize the evacuation of the affected individuals if their homes have become dangerous or inaccesible do to the inpact of bombs. This may involve arranging transportation and providing means of evacuating people from the dangerous area to safe locations. Aranging to provide temporary shelter and refuge for those who have lost their homes doe to bombing. this can be organized through temporary camps, hotels or other suitable locations. Ensure that the affected individuals have an adequate supply of food and drinks. In this situation it is necessary to organize the supply of food and water to those who have lost access to their resources. Psychological support to the affected individuals and the community that has experienced emotional trauma doe to the bombing. This can be done through the services of psychologist and social workers. Humanitarian support from domestic and external sources to help the individuals rebuild their lives and communities. Infrastructure restoration after the bombing is necessary to restore the destroyed infrastructure to help people to return to normal life.
Global social work midterm quastion 2.
ReplyDeleteCertain methods can be identified that can help reduce dehumanization and enable people to live peacefully, integrate into society, giving them dignity and the opportunity to live a safe and stable life. It is possible to create various preventive programs aimed at educating and increasing people's awareness, informing the public about the dangers of prostitution, sexual exploitation and human trafficking. To introduce the risk of sexual exploitation and the importance of human dignity in society through various educational programs. To give people the opportunity to work and earn
I can add to this comment. It is really important the law system, to make it more stable and trustworthy, open free lawyers consultations for people who cannot afford. Community also should be informed well about helpin and prevention programs in media and TV, people who work in them should be flexible, not working only by the "paper". Young people should be incouraged by government to start their business and get free consultations about finances and tax system.
DeleteThe residents of the town of Vieques came up with a movement that has become popular throughout Puerto Rico. They organized conferences, workshops, articles, media reports, public demonstrations and more. People started protesting and the army left this island alone. So, people in Ukraine and Palestine can safely protest against the aggressor without having to respond to brutality with brutality. A movement needs to be created worldwide, popularized and strengthened through various channels through the media. In Lithuania, there is a movement against the war in Ukraine, donations are actively being made, people organize gatherings, but it is not effective in this case, because the aggressor does not take into account peaceful ways to resolve disagreements. However, it is still worth developing the empowerment of the individual and society, looking at situations positively, teaching people not to tolerate evil, think broadly, but help here and now and work in the name of justice. All these factors will help to create a strong community, and such a community can improve its living conditions and is hard to defeat.
ReplyDeleteAs I said in my first answer, that if we look at history and at the steps taken to try to teach or bring back humanity to Germans, in my view this should have been done to Russia as well. Of course, it is maddeningly complicated to do this, so we need to start small. First of all, it is well known that there is very strong propaganda and disinformation in Russia, and that many people in Russia do not know what is happening, do not understand the cause, because they do not get the right information. However, young people have access to the Internet and can see most of the real information. I think it would be possible to provide information to young people, to try to show them what is going on, to send them video footage, evidence, and to try to make them familiar with reality. And to spread the message to the whole world about what is going on, about how inhumane Russia's actions are, how it is breaking a lot of rules. All of the brutal content from war should be made accessible to the Russian public via news channels and social media pages.
ReplyDeleteThe dehumanization happening in Ukraine right now is a complex issue that would require more than just U.N. or non-governmental organization efforts. Personally, as someone who always prioritizes mental health and is affected by the war, I think that Ukraine right now is facing a lot of trauma building up - both primary and secondary - as well as survivors guilt. Scharf (2007) conducted research on the long-term effects of trauma and the psychosocial functioning of two different generations of Holocaust survivors. The author (Scharf, 2007) found that the generation with Holocaust experience showed extreme levels of psychological distress, and their parenting was less positive than that of those without any experience of the traumatic event. This emphasizes that the trauma not only affects the generation that had the experience but also their offspring, who suffer from poor self-perception and many other negative traits related to secondary trauma. This is exactly the danger that Ukrainians are facing right now, and that future generations will face. The main thing we can do and the only strategic plan from a standpoint of social work we can make is to apply clinical social work aspects. In this case, working with traumatic experiences, looking into how those experiences impacted survivors‘ psychosocial functioning, and helping people heal from those traumatic experiences to improve their resilience. According to Dorfman (1996), one of the principles in clinical social work is the psychosocial approach - a broad approach that includes multidimensional assessment and treatment while seeing the client from a two-pronged perspective of “psycho“ and “social“ factors. The approach is forever changing and expanding while incorporating new ethical ideas and treatments for different contexts, including the Holocaust or war; hence, the emphasized intervention is based on the therapeutic relationship between the client and the worker, providing the context for changes (Dorfman, 1996). Only incorporating a psychosocial approach and seeing a person from the perspectives of “social“ and "psycho" will, in my opinion, be the most effective thing we can do for a long-term solution.
ReplyDeleteOfcourse a lot of other issues can be addressed by social workers, such as helping people to distinguish between disinformation and actual real information, helping them access the information sources to begin with, rehabilitating humanity as a whole concept of being and remaining humane towards each other, allocating resources needed, providing humanitarian aid, etc.
Dorfman, R. A. (1996). Clinical social work: Definition, practice and vision. Routledge.
Scharf, M. (2007). Long-term effects of trauma: Psychosocial functioning of the second and third generation of Holocaust survivors. Development and psychopathology, 19(2), 603-622. doi: 10.1017/S0954579407070290
I agree you. The exploitation of people in a war situation reminds me of V. E. Frankl's last remarks in his book Man's Search for Meaning, where he says that everyone in critical conditions must choose whether he will protect his dignity or behave in any ethical manner in the name of survival. Frankl observes that the conditions of the concentration camp tore off people's masks: some appeared as pigs, others as saints.
DeleteHe encourages everyone to choose in everyday life: “Wouldn't it suffice just to refer to decent people? It is true that they form a minority. More than that, they always will remain a minority. And yet I see therein the very challenge to join the minority. For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best. So, let us be alert-alert in a twofold sense: Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of. And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake.”
So global social worker is one who encourages you to choose each such responsibility.
I believe that working with individuals who have been involved in war or become war hostages is incredibly difficult and requires a clear plan. Being able to speak out loud and confidently, I would strive to highlight the immense harm that war inflicts on individuals, not only on those fleeing from war but also on those who fight, losing their loved ones. The scars of war leave painful consequences on individuals, negatively affecting their psychological well-being, increasing social isolation, and amplifying the number of experienced traumas. It is crucial to provide emotional support to individuals who have suffered in any way from war, who experience trauma, and struggle to build trust-based relationships. It is also important to work not only with the individual but with the entire community in creating a safe environment where individuals can share their experiences. A social worker not only provides emotional support but also coordinates all necessary assistance and contributes to the enforcement of human rights, freedoms, dignity, and justice. To reduce and stop dehumanization, I would work with individuals, reminding them of the most important values of life, without forgetting their beliefs, showing the true world that is changing today. In many cases, people succumb to their inner voice and do what is unacceptable to them because of the belief that it must be so, everyone does it. Striving to stop this would involve returning to the real world.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2:
ReplyDeleteThere is already many organizations and governments trying to classify what is going on in Palestine as a genocide and many experts are releasing articles and papers about the dehumanization practices the IOF is using against the Palestinian people. As a civilian, I do what I can to donate for resources for the innocent people in Palestine and I spread as much content of first hand photos and videos of what is going on there. The biggest lesson from multi-media campaigns I see currently from citizens in Palestine and journalists on the ground there is sharing first hand records of the events and showing the world what these innocent people are going through. The mass media covering this genocide is referring to people in numbers and using other dehumanization tactics to distract and detach people from the horror of what is actually going on. Sharing first hand accounts and real stories will show that these civilian casualties “in the cross hairs of war” are not just that, they are victims of a genocidal government who are trying to achieve eugenics and land rights.
Memory Banda used many of the skills discussed in the article on Vieques in order to make a difference in stopping child marriage in her community. Ten different commitments were used for community health education in order to make a difference in Vieques (Torres, 2005, pg. 9). By continuing to use these types of commitments, changes can be made in the dehumanization of women through marriage inequalities. One of the first commitments is to start where the people are. Banda worked to solve problems in her own community, naturally focusing on the people that lived and took part in the community (Banda, 2015). Applying this commitment to the issue of divorce inequalities based on gender differences, it’s important to start in the community and locate already existing movements supporting greater women’s rights in terms of divorces. It also appears that the issue of divorce inequalities becomes a greater issue because of financial inequalities (Deif, 2005). With better financial equality, women would be able to navigate through the court system better by themselves. The two issues work together in this case, and both groups fighting for divorce equality as well as those fighting for financial equality may be able to work together to progress both goals.
ReplyDeleteAfter finding local groups fighting for the goal, another important commitment is to recognize and build on community strengths. Banda did this by recognizing how much of the population was affected by child marriage practices. With many of the women in the community affected, there was a large population to draw from for support and to advocate for change. A similar situation exists with Egypt’s divorce inequality. This issue affects primarily women, so it’s important to be able to draw from that population in order to make change. However, there are far less women attempting to get divorced than those being affected by child marriage in Malawi. Because of this, there is a smaller group that may be willing to advocate for such change. It is not just women that are affected though; children that are forced to stay in abusive households also struggle from the lack of divorce equality. Because of this, there is likely a larger population that at least knows someone closely that has been affected by the divorce inequality laws.
Banda used this large population of women affected in order to foster a higher level of community empowerment. She helped the women in Malawi realize that they could make a change in their practices, ultimately leading a group of women from the community in order to make change. A similar idea can be used in Egypt, focusing on the divorce inequality. It’s important to empower the women in the community in order for them to feel that they can make change. One way to do this would be to have a stronger presence of women in court. As of 2005, women in Egypt were not allowed to become judges as they were seen to be too emotional and unable to travel for their profession, which is required for Egyptian judges (Deif, 2005, pg. 111). By women represented in a court setting, more women may feel confidence in their ability to win divorce court cases. However, a large part of this issue still ties back to the marriage inequalities that exist as a part of the Egyptian government’s laws. If these women feel more empowered, they may feel like they can have an effect on unequal divorce laws. Ultimately, by feeling like they are able to make change, Egyptian women are more likely to advocate for law changes, giving them better divorce opportunities.
References
DeleteBanda, M. (2015, May). A warrior’s cry against child marriage [Video]. TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/memory_banda_a_warrior_s_cry_against_child_marriage?language=en
Deif, F. (2005). Divorced from Justice. Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies, 1(3), 108–115. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40326874
Torres, M. I. (2005). Organizing, educating, and advocating for health and human rights in Vieques, Puerto Rico. American Journal of Public Health, 95(1), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2003.025700
ReplyDeleteI believe that, as a leader of the United Nations and an international social worker, it is my responsibility to take action to ensure comprehensive humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine in this difficult period.
In the context of war and brutal dehumanisation, it is important to provide medical support, to ensure adequate medical care and to control chronic diseases. It is also necessary to ensure the provision of food, especially for children and families who are unable to obtain adequate food because of the land that has been mined and the destruction of institutions. In addition, financial support will be necessary to rebuild destroyed infrastructures and buildings.
And at political level, it is important to bring world leaders together to implement tough sanctions against Russia, which is dehumanising the Ukrainian people. It is also important to seek to limit the influence of pro-Russian countries in decision-making on aid to Ukraine, in order to stop the blocking of aid. It is necessary to pay attention to the psychological and emotional health of the people affected by the war. The UN organisation should set up a psychological helpline and promote self-help groups. Also, it is important to organise psychological support for Ukrainians war reffuges, whose loved ones are being killed and what is important to them destroyed. It is also important to disseminate information about real events to the Russian population in order to promote awareness and critical thinking in Russia, thereby contributing to the dissemination of democratic values and the necessary changes in Russia.
I think these are the main points of my work as a UN leader.
The first step is to examine the extent of dehumanisation. Specifically on the phenomenon of the exploitation of women, there are many organizations working in this area. At first we need to know how many women are affected. A strategy is needed to find and free them. Close cooperation with law enforcement and non-governmental organizations is needed to ensure women's safety and support in the recovery and treatment of trauma. It is necessary to inform the public about the exploitation of women, human trafficking and to invite them to participate in spreading the message and preventing it. The exploitation of women in prostitution is perceived by the public as a job they have chosen to do. This is a myth that needs to be dispelled with concrete facts and research.
ReplyDeleteThe fight against the exploiters of women can be very dangerous, as the exploiters can come up against human rights defenders. There are many cases in history where this has happened, even to law enforcement officials who have prosecuted these criminals.
What is needed is full psychosocial support and security for victims who have been freed from slavery.
In the Europe we have last dates on human trafficking 23 registered victims of trafficking per one million inhabitants. There are match more not registered victims. Only in 2022 sexual exploitation decreased (less than 50%)
Look at statistics: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Trafficking_in_human_beings_statistics
I believe that social work with people affected by war is not simple. As I mentioned in my 1st answer, dehumanization of people causes a lot of damage and it is not only physical, but also psychological. In answering this question, I think it is very important to support each person, to be close to them. Also, I think it's important to connect victims to support groups so that they don't feel alone, to understand that everything can be overcome and to help them create a safe psychological environment in order to overcome their traumas.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree Dovile! It is so awful that the vast majority of people that have been traumatized by experiencing war never recieve the proper treatment they need or even a safe, comfortable environment because they are sent to refugee camps or have to fight to seek asylum after being displaced from their homes. For those who are lucky enough to have access to mental health care, it is not guarunteed that their therapist/social worker is educated and equipped to treat their trauma, especially such a severe and complex trauma like living through a war. That is why I think it is important for social workers and clinical therapists to have education on trauma informed care and the different trauma informed treatments that clients might benefit from.
DeleteKarolina Rašimaitė
DeleteI agree with the girls, I think it is important for those fleeing war to receive psychosocial support, but in order to provide it, we need to have training in how to work with people who have been traumatised by war, so that the support we provide is a positive resource.
All over the world there are girls who do not live by their own rules. In this case, they suffer sexual abuse at the hands of their husbands and give birth to children, regardless of whether they are educated or ready for a family. In most cases, the men in the family have the power to make decisions for the woman. In my opinion, there are many girls who want to change this situation, but they are afraid to talk about it and lack support. As a social worker, I would work primarily with psychologists and the whole team would provide psychological support to the girls remotely and physically. We would provide social support in the form of items and hygiene items when needed and we would also set up support groups for girls who have been sexually abused through the social network. The support groups would give the girls the opportunity to share their experiences and feel listened to and supported. My job as a social worker would be to create an organisation that advocates for gender equality in terms of sexuality to reduce the dehumanisation of women. When I heard the TED talk, I remembered the girl's words, “I will get married if I want to”. I think every girl, no matter what age, has to decide for herself what path she wants to take in life.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with your statement and believe that everyone should have the freedom of choice and freedom to make decisions about their lives. I also believe that psychological support and group therapy sessions for girls who have been sexually abused are a much needed help. I believe that a social worker offering these services could represent the interests of young girls and help society to hear their voices and their stories, thus contributing to the prevention of sexual abuse.
DeleteWhile the dehumanization of women is far reaching and broad in the world, if individual societies were to implement the following strategies, it would lead to the beginning of remedying the inequalities that women globally have been facing. In her article “Organizing, Educating, and Advocating for Health and Human Rights in Vieques, Puerto Rico” Maria Idalí Torres describes how community-based interventions are effective and may be applied in other global contexts and issues that are facing social injustices. One of the main values that were infused in each of the ten commitments for Community Health Education was cultural humility. From the very first commitment which is “Start where the people are” (Torres, 2005), it is important that global social workers need to learn directly from community members rather than making assumption about what the community needs. So, in the case of young Malawian girls being sent to initiation camps, global social workers would need to first go to the community and understand the origins of this practice, especially as elder members see this as tradition. By coming into their space with understanding, rather than judgment, trust may be formed between the global social workers and Malawian girls which may also make them more willing to hear the other party’s point of view.
ReplyDeleteThe next strategy I would use to remedy the dehumanization of women would be to equip women with the tools and resources that would be aimed at enhancing their social and political competencies. This strategy worked in Vieques when the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques facilitated the training of local residents in learning advocacy activities. In Katherine Tyson McCrea’s presentation Gender-Based Discrimination and Social Work Interventions to Respond, she describes statistics that emphasize the inequality between men and women. One of these statistics state that “Two-thirds of the 130 million children worldwide who are not in school are girls” which demonstrates how a deprivation of education is a method of keeping women oppressed (McCrea, 2024). In response to this statistic, global social workers must work to help these women gain access to education. In doing so, women will have the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and advocate for themselves, rather than submissively following how norms are in their society that keep them powerless. An example that demonstrates this success is through Memory Banda, who taught mothers how to read and write so that they can share their experiences with others. Knowledge is power and equipping young girls with education is a tool to help them defend themselves: “So if these young girls know that there are laws that protect them, they will be able to stand up and defend themselves because they will know that there is a law that protects them” (Banda, 2015).
The last strategy that I would implement is ensuring these movements that work to liberate women from their oppressed statuses are intersectional. In Vieques, they ensured that they had a broad enough framework so that they were able to help as many people as possible and address their unique needs: “By broadening the framework of their Vieques work to a larger agenda for protecting the right to live, work, and play in a healthy environment, organizers were acting in a way that was consistent with the eighth CHE commitment” (Torres, 2005). As the dehumanization of women occurs globally, it is important that we consider the unique identities in conjunction to being a woman that affect their social location of power, so that the care we provide as global social workers is culturally sensitive and relevant. By applying these three strategies from Vieques to remedying the dehumanization of women, it may bring women everywhere, one step closer to equality.
McCrea, Katherine Tyson. (2024) Gender-Based Discrimination and Social Work Interventions to Respond [PowerPoint slides]. School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago
DeleteTorres, Maria Idali. (2005). Organizing, educating, and advocating for health and human rights in Vieques, Puerto Rico. American Journal of Public Health, 95, 9-12
Hi Rylee, I like the point you make referring to "knowledge is power" and that a greater education empowers girls to defend themselves. This made me think of how knowledge works as both a tool of both reactionary and progressive empowerment. An article from another class speaks about how collective knowledge can work towards mobilizing a disenfranchised group to advocate for their rights and for an improvement of their living situation. I see it as an opportunity, like you say, for girls to "defend themselves because they know a law exists" (in other words, a reaction to a circumstance), but at the same time allows a community to band together to identify the lack of protections that exist that need to be addressed (in other words make progress to a more equitable society).
DeleteHuman rights violations and sexual violence against women and the restriction of their choices are a global problem, and I believe that the social worker is the professional who can make a big difference in the world with the principle of human rights and freedom of choice. Social workers all over the world play a very important role in supporting women who are victims of sexual violence. With all the necessary resources, an effective support plan should first and foremost include crisis intervention, where women who have been sexually assaulted have access to a safe environment and the necessary medical and other care. Individual and/or group counselling and therapy services should be made available to survivors so that they can explore their feelings and find coping strategies. In my opinion, it is also very important to advocate and mediate with women who have been sexually abused to empower them to make their own decisions. At the end of the process, it is important to ensure continuity of services and provide support in later life. Education and prevention is another important aspect of support. It's about educating individuals and communities about what sexual violence is, what the signs are and encouraging them to seek help. I believe that education is the most powerful weapon in the fight against all types of violence. I want to emphasise that education must not only be for women, but also for men and for the whole community. The aid process cannot be separated from policy changes that could be triggered by research and collaboration with other institutions. Therefore, it is important to talk about sexual violence and to promote protection against sexual violence at the level of the law.
ReplyDeleteThe bombing in Vieques by the US Navy lasted for over 60 years and was the cause of major environmental and health consequences for residents. It finally ended in 2003 after human rights advocates, environmental and public health activists and supporters from within Puerto Rico and internationally were able to put enough pressure on the US to withdraw through civil disobedience movements as well as media campaigns. Their media campaigns were crucial in raising awareness and support through multiple forms of media such as films & documentaries, news coverage, art mediums, and the internet. These tactics could be applied to remedy the dehumanization of women and girls taking place in communities like Memory Banda’s.
ReplyDeleteI think that many of the terrible acts of dehumanization that happen in communities outside of our own are easily ignored or forgotten partly because there is insufficient media coverage. Media campaigns can bring awareness to dehumanizing practices by highlighting lived experiences, showcasing the reality of it through visual means, as well as providing context to the situation to help the public understand the systemic factors that contribute to these practices. We cannot implement effective change if we don’t understand the history and context under which dehumanizing practices take place. Banda’s TED talk highlighted her own process, which started by bringing girls together, listening to their lived experience and taking it to the leaders in their community until they were able to get the law changed in Malawi. As she mentions in her TED talk, there continues to be many communities where child marriage is still legal, yet it is not something we hear in the news. In employing a multimedia campaign, I would aim to amplify the voices of young girls and tell their stories to gather support and the resources needed to change the system. Providing individuals with a platform to share their story can also empower them to continue the movements for change as it allows supporters to validate their lived experiences and share their own in solidarity. Additionally, there is strength in numbers and multimedia campaigns can allow us to reach a wider audience to increase support. Media coverage can also help in preventing these dehumanizing practices from taking place in other communities just by shining a light on it.
Memory Banda. (2015). Transcript of “A warrior’s cry against child marriage.” Ted.com; TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/memory_banda_a_warrior_s_cry_against_child_marriage/transcript
Torres, M. I. (2005). Organizing, Educating, and Advocating for Health and Human Rights in Vieques, Puerto Rico. American Journal of Public Health, 95(1), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2003.025700
I appreciated what you shared about using media campaigns to end dehumanizing practices. I think about the history and context of social issues whenever I watch the local news, or even morning shows or the national evening news. Many major wars, conflicts, and catastrophes around the world get no media coverage in the U.S. The ones that do make our news rarely get deep reporting that would provide that history and context. I find myself reading magazines or reputable news sites if I want to learn about an issue. You have me thinking about what it might look like to press our national news outlets to offer more in-depth coverage. I appreciated that you named not just the exposure, but the ways in which improved media coverage could help victims of oppression feel more agency as they shared their lived experiences.
Delete
ReplyDeleteBy looking at the methods from the successful multimedia campaign for Vieques' liberation, a global social worker would need a strategic plan. This plan would address the dehumanization of women such as war crimes and sex trafficking, the campaign would focus on empowerment, policy change, media, and international allegiances.
A global social worker could support empowerment programs for women. These programs would provide education, skill training, and well-being support. Empowering women with these programs can help break the barrier of dehumanization and build strong women.
A global social worker could work on policy reform. They could promote legislation that protects women from dehumanization and exploitation. They can talk with policymakers and leverage the pressure from public opinion and international alliances to enforce laws that address these issues.
A global social worker should make the voices of affected women heard through various media platforms. They should use social media and help create documentaries to reach a wider audience.
A global social worker should help create alliances with global organizations, NGOs, and other governments. These alliances can create political and logistical support such as offering protection and rehabilitation for victims and pushing for legal reforms.
This plan aims to not only address the immediate issue of dehumanization but also to create societal and cultural shifts that value and protect all women.
Torres, Maria Idali. (2005). Organizing, educating and advocating for health and human rights in Vieques, Puerto Rico. American Journal of Public Health, 95, 9-12
Torres’ article highlighting the different approaches that helped empower the disenfranchised community in Vieques. These commitments can also translate to other groups that have found themselves in a position of dehumanization. This is true for persons with disabilities, who have continuously experienced deindividualization. While it is absolutely crucial to “Start where the people are” as is outlined in her article, other approaches highlighted are of great importance for empowerment.
ReplyDeleteOne such commitment is worded as “Health education is educational-but it is also political”. The article states that it is important for both citizens and policymakers alike. In this approach, “practitioners” would also be added to the list. An expansion in the training of disability healthcare for providers is essential for the empowerment of the community. Providing additional language and knowledge that involves disability is crucial in expanding the knowledge base of practitioners, allowing for a foundation of higher-level care.
More important, however, is an understanding of the fundamental human rights violations that exist when a medical model approach to healthcare is taken. Education about the power imbalances that can exist in individual consultations between patients and providers can assist in closing this gap that dehumanizes persons with disabilities. The article mentions that “education for legislators and other government officials… influence[d] changes in the federal policies that maintained the military presence in Vieques.” Similarly, education to healthcare professionals about the models of care that maintain power imbalances can assist in changing the status quo.
Community Health Education on the Issue of Sex Trafficking
ReplyDeleteTorres (2005) recommendations for promoting community health education are relevant for addressing the global issue of sex trafficking. Her first recommendation is to start where the people are. I took this to mean both where they are physically, but also where they are on the issue at hand. This reminds me of the social work approach of meeting people where they are. Thinking back to my students in Oakland, I think it would be important to get them talking about their experiences in a safe setting. There is a global sex trafficking crisis, but Torres’s recommendation to think globally and act locally, resonates with me. Northern California, the Bay Area is home to me; I know the community there the best, so it makes sense that I would work on the issue there. I would want to be a member of the team that was working to organize them for political action, but more importantly, connecting them with community resources and supports. The victims of sex trafficking should be the ones to set their activism priorities. Their voices should be centered as they know best what their community needs. Torres’s emphasizes the importance of the community setting their priorities to foster personal and political agency. As I thought of what this work might look like, I thought of the street art that is everywhere in the Bay Area. There could be murals and messages about the harmful impact of sex trafficking on its victims and the community. We could tap into the assets that our survivor-activists have, be that art, messaging on the various socials, community organizing, and advocating for changes to both the laws around sex trafficking and how those laws are enforced.
If I was a social worker fighting for the liberation of Palestine, I would certainly use lessons from the liberation of Vieques. My plan would center around creating voices for Palestinian people. To free themselves from the US, the people of Vieques needed to broaden their protest from colonialism. Instead of simply going against colonialism, the population fought for their basic human rights. The strategies included using community advocacy and relying on the strengths of the islanders. The people of Vieques also used personal testimonies to create a better understanding of their experiences.
ReplyDeleteTo remedy this dehumanization, I would focus a lot on media portrayal of Hamas and Palestine. They are villinized typically in Western media, while Israeli is victimized. I have seen propaganda from Zionists calling Hamas a terrorist organization, using intense language to criticize, then going forth to kill significantly higher numbers of Palestinians. The multi media campaign of Vieques utilized conferences, workshops, teach-ins, research papers among many others. I would advocate to use these multi-media against the dehumanization of Palestinians. Art was another technique used, and I believe it would be beneficial to highlight the strengths and creativity of the Palestinian people. The first step to creating support is to dismantle the propaganda about Hamas, and the negative misinformation about Palestinian people. If countries around the world can support and uplift Palestinian voices, this will help garner more support from foreign aid and even the United Nations.
Resources:
Torres, Maria Idalí. “Organizing, Educating, and Advocating for Health and Human Rights
in Vieques, Puerto Rico.” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 95, 2005.
In order to help women who have experienced sexual violence, it is important to adopt a number of strategies that focus on appropriate support. One way is to form groups where women who have experienced the horrors of war crimes, violence and atrocities can come together to share their painful experiences and ensure that what has happened to them is acknowledged.It is important to seek to imprison the perpetrators of the crimes, ensuring that similar acts do not happen to other women.Providing psychological and medical support to women who have suffered abuse is also an important aspect. Often, women are not able to overcome such experiences, they just try to learn to move on. Some successful projects encourage women to talk about what happened to them, to share their stories, to talk about their experiences and to provide emotional support to each other. When providing therapy and counselling, it is important to pay attention to the availability of help, as in many parts of the world women may have limited access to such support, which is why it is important to raise awareness so that more and more women are able to find the help they need.
ReplyDeleteTo help women who have experienced a lot of emotional and physical violence and sexual abuse is very important to be satisfied. In my opinion, women who have experienced such experiences should receive good emotional support. There are also groups of women who have experienced such experiences. I believe that individuals who have experienced such horror in their own lives can effectively and meaningfully share ways of coping with it. It is important that such women receive quality help from psychologists and psychotherapists. Also, it is important that such help methods are available and known to all women who need them. These things must be provided because many women are simply afraid to ask. He does not want to tell what is his and keeps everything to himself. You need to show understanding and willingness to help even when you are refused the first time.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your commentary. I think that there should be more women's shelters, support groups, and education about the violence against women on a micro, mezzo, and macro level. I think in order to do this we need to push for more policy change and really rally the communities and non-profits. We need to work in collaboration with one another.
DeleteA. Imagining that I am a Global Social Worker working as a leader with the U.N., or working for an NGO for persons with disabilities, my strategic plan to remedy the dehumanization of these individuals would be to follow the Ten Commitments for Community Health Education. For the first CHE, “Start where the people are,” I would urge and educate the Nazi soldiers during that time, or even individuals who still hold these beliefs in this time, to take a closer look and truly work and integrate with these individuals. I would educate them on the vast history of discrimination, dehumanization, and even infantilization that individuals with disabilities face. I would ask organizations and policymakers to continue focusing on the protection and push for the basic human rights of these individuals. Recognizing and trying to unlearn/undo the mindset and atrocities that the Nazi regime had done unto persons with disabilities would be difficult but not impossible.
ReplyDeleteB. CHE 2: “Recognize and build on community strengths”. I would, on a micro, mezzo, and macro level, push for the acknowledgement and apology of the harm done unto that community. I would then provide financial compensation to survivors and their families as a form of reparations for the suffering they had endured. These reparations would include medical bills, mental and emotional support, and other ways to support the new lives of these individuals and their families.
C. CHE 6: “Health education is educational-but it is also political”. In terms of education, I would be sure to push for the historical evidence of these atrocities to be on display in museums and be taught in schools so that this will never be repeated. I would be sure that it is known how the health of individuals with and without disabilities differ and are similar. I would be sure to put the rhetoric of the Nazis at the time into these museums and in the education of schools. I would be sure to want to push these museums and classes across the nation, and even globally where all individuals can learn from the voices of the survivors rather than the perspective of the oppressor. It should be in the policies of the nation to ensure the education of students and citizens so that a genocide like this never occurs again.
D. CHE 3: “Honor thy community-do not make it holy”. Another way to memorialize what happened in an educational and apologetic way would be to continue to allow these death-camps to stay up and to never tear them down for fear of history repeating itself. I think using these places as educational memorials of all those lost would be better than tearing them down.
E. CHE 7: “Thou shalt not tolerate the bad ‘isms’”. I think that truly seeing the mass number of individuals who suffered and died for the actions of the Nazi regime and the effect it had on the nation is more impactful. I think hiding from one’s past and not acknowledging the negative is where some nations get it wrong. You cannot pretend racism, sexism, ableism, etc. did not exist because we are in a “new age”. They have not gone away; they have merely evolved into less obvious and more systemic forms of discrimination.
ReplyDeleteF. CHE 4: “Foster high level community participation”. The second way we can remedy the atrocities committed would be to continue to push for and support the voices of individuals who are disabled in the community on a micro/mezzo/macro scale and back them in their strive for full rights. Such examples would be more accessibility, the freedom to legally marry without having their rights reduced/insurance reduced, etc.
G. CHE 5: “Laughter is good medicine-and good health education”. I think in this regard, similar to the article, one way we can see things clearly would be through the display of arts and other cultural activities in educational and organizational activities that call attention to the problem. Humor and comedy unite communities and it is okay to laugh even in times of deep trauma/oppression. Many times, individuals use humor to cope and even though the tragedy is not funny, many times in order to get through the day one needs to see the light/goodness in things.
H. CHE 8: “Think globally, act locally”. Another micro way to support individuals would be more and better access to mental health services and support groups, places where their trauma is acknowledged and where they can be truly supported. On the more macro side of things, we can collaborate with other nations in the education and support/defense of human rights for individuals with disabilities. Overall, the goal of would be to promote the human rights and true dignity/autonomy of all individuals, regardless of disability status, to be proactive in the prevention of genocides like this one in the future.
I. CHE 9: “Foster individual and community empowerment”. For communities to be empowered, we need to first empower the individuals to want to be involved in the change. Through education, as stated previously, via schools and the requirement to acknowledge wrongdoings, etc., we can empower these individuals to enact change in their communities. Along with this, education via the internet is more prevalent and important than ever, especially with how fast information spreads and the platform and number of people we can impact.
J. Overall, we would want all the CHEs to encompass the final CHE. CHE 10: “Work for social justice”. By empowering individuals through education and real participation in their communities, we can enact tangible change globally.
https://sakai.luc.edu/access/content/group/SOWK_654_001_1347_1242/Week%203/communityorgpuertorico.pdf source
DeleteKarolina Rašimaitė
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it is important that soldiers and their families receive psychosocial support. Support from other parties, both moral and material. To spread the word about what help is needed, to educate the public about communication with people who have fled war, to educate about the psychosocial help that we can give each other. There is also a need for training on how to work with war trauma, because we, in Lithuania and many other countries, do not have any practice on how to work with war trauma, because we have not experienced it so closely before. I think that the UN organisation could help with this. And the state that started the war should be subject to long-term and severe sanctions.
The chapters of the advocacy group should hold education and advocacy meetings in their respective communities and talk to local politicians about how to promote human rights as a community through volunteering programs, donations, and most importantly political power. Chicago was the first major city to call for a ceasefire and it was only made possible through the persistent protesting and convincing of local politicians that they must officially call for the federal government to call for a ceasefire and stop the support of genocide. The education and partnership with politicians is one of the most important purposes of the advocacy group because what is truly needed to stop the funding of genocide is political power.
ReplyDeleteWe will talk to communities that feel like they are not related to this conflict and educate them on how human rights advocacy is everyone's issue: this isn't just about Palestinians, it's about protecting the human rights of everyone. We will foster high levels of community participation by affirming that every participant's contribution was important for the success of the campaign and for gaining broader solidarity for other humans rights violations happening in the United States and around the world. We will educate people on how they can make a difference socially and politically by doing things such as raising money and support for established peacebuilding activist groups and aid groups that are helping Palestinians on the ground in Gaza or even just contacting your local politicians.
Finally, we will focus much of our education effort to target groups that statistically support Israel and its support by the United states. We will get the education and humanizing media to the people who have been indoctrinated with Zionist and Islamophobic propaganda that only consume conservative or right-wing media that spreads this. For these groups we will focus on the importance of freedom for Palestinians and humanizing the victims of genocide through testimonials and media showing the devastating effects the war is having on individual lives of Palestinians.
References:
Al Jazeera. (2024, February 13). Has Israel committed war crimes in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city? https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/13/has-israel-committed-war-crimes-in-rafah
International human rights United States ratification of International Human Rights Treaties. Human Rights Watch. (2023, March 28). https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/07/24/united-states-ratification-international-human-rights-treaties
Torres, M. I. (2005). Organizing, educating, and advocating for health and human rights in Vieques, Puerto Rico. American Journal of Public Health, 95(1), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2003.025700
As a global social worker, I would educate the U.N. about the psychosocial ramifications of the genocide in Rwanda currently. I would invite community leaders from Rwanda to help emphasize the repercussions of the genocide. By amending a relationship with the U.N. and Rwanda, it will spark collaboration and implementation of political and societal reformation. Researchers from the Trauma and PTSD Symptoms in Rwanda: Implication for Attitudes Toward Justice and Reconciliation article suggested that, “those who met the PTSD symptom criteria were less likely to support the Rwandan national trials, to believe in community, and to demonstrate interdependence with other ethic groups. These findings suggest that the relationship of judicial trials to reconciliation cannot be assumed, nor can we assume that all trauma survivors necessarily see justice in the same way. Further more, the data from Rwanda indicate that openness to reconciliation is related to multiple other personal and environmental factors that must be considered in developing policies for peace-building in societies that are emerging from mass violence…if countries are to rebuild after genocide or ethnic cleansing, it is important to understand the factors that may facilitate or inhibit that process” (2004). This supports the motive to involve community/historical leaders from Rwanda and the United Nations to draft political, societal, and environmental policies and procedures to plant new practices and routines that is justified and fair amongst all parties.
ReplyDeleteReferences
Pham, P. N., Weinstein, H. M., & Longman, T. (2004). Trauma and PTSD symptoms in Rwanda: implications for attitudes toward justice and reconciliation. Jama, 292(5), 602-612.
Remedying the dehumanization of women as discussed in question 1 is multifaceted. If I was a global social worker trying to solve this issue I would implement many of the commitments for Community Health Education as discussed by Torres (2005). ‘Start where the people are’ is powerful as it forces outsiders such as myself to understand how women in Memory Banda’s community were treated and how this issue originated. Practicing cultural humility as a social worker is crucial in approaching other cultures with respect and grace. ‘Foster individual and community empowerment’ (Torres, 2005) is another approach I would use when working with women who have been sex trafficked or otherwise abused by men. Empowering the mistreated women to rise up in their society by teaching them what opportunities they have available to them is another way I would remedy the dehumanization of women. Education is empowerment and so many women worldwide are denied this human right which ensures they are unaware of resources and support to help them escape abuse. Another way to tackle this issue is to spread awareness that it is occurring. It is so easy to turn a blind eye when an issue is not directly affecting us and if we don’t know what’s happening around the world, we are adding to the issue. Pressuring government officials to send aid and resources to the women being abused is another way I would fight against dehumanization. Challenging the norms a society holds about a group of people in a way that is respectful but pushes people to explore alternative viewpoints is another way I could be helpful.
ReplyDeleteSource:
Torres, M. I. (2005). Organizing, educating, and advocating for health and human rights in Vieques, Puerto Rico. American Journal of Public Health, 95(1), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2003.025700
While the girls described by Banda were able to make change in their own community and eventually in the country as a whole, there are other communities and countries that need the same changes to be made. There are a few strategies as used in the campaign for the liberation of Vieques that I would utilize to make change when it came to the minimum age of marriage in countries around the world. The first is based on the commitment to “foster individual and community empowerment” (Torres, 2005). The importance of community and individual empowerment is an important tenant when it comes to social work. It is important to aid communities in empowering themselves to make change within their own communities. Through education and empowerment on a community level, as seen in Vieques, locals become invested in change (2005). Together with this tenant, the next commitment I would focus on is to “think globally, act locally” (2005). In Vieques this commitment focused on broadening external support while establishing grassroots local movements (2005). The locals were able to learn from other communities that had used grassroots movements to make change (2005). In her TED talk, Banda (2015) mentioned the importance of the investment in local level change and how they were able to make larger change as a result. One of the most important mediums for change is through the education and empowerment of those affected. These strategies as used in Vieques could be utilized to address child marriage through growing external support, establishing grassroots movements, and the education and empowerment of those impacted.
ReplyDeleteBanda, M. (2015). A warrior’s cry against child marriage. Memory Banda: A warrior’s cry against
child marriage | TED Talk.
https://www.ted.com/talks/memory_banda_a_warrior_s_cry_against_child_marriage?language=en
Torres, Maria Idali. (2005). Organizing, educating and advocating for health and human rights in Vieques, Puerto Rico. American Journal of Public Health, 95, 9-12
At the moment, the people of Ukraine need comprehensive assistance, which should encompass all levels: micro, mezzo, macro, including medical, social, and psychological support. First and foremost, at the political level, it is crucial to adopt bold and united decisions by the world's countries, the European Union regarding Russia, as the sanctions imposed so far are insufficient. It is also important to spread awareness about the ongoing crimes against humanity.
ReplyDeleteCountries hosting Ukrainian war refugees must strongly consider their situation and rights, providing all necessary assistance. This could involve ensuring housing, employment opportunities, access to education for children, and providing necessary medical care. Additionally, providing psychological and psychosocial support for people experiencing traumatic experiences through individual counseling or support groups is essential. I believe that in this situation, it is important to see each individual with their own story, to listen to them, and provide the necessary assistance. This, I believe, is particularly important in the context of dehumanization discussed in question 1, where there is no place for human dignity. People are being dehumanized by Russia, by war, therefore the countries where they have sought refuge should not repeat dehumanization again.
For those remaining in Ukraine, medical, social, and psychological assistance should be provided. For example, providing support to ensure basic needs: water, food, clothing, medical supplies. Both for Ukrainian refugees and those remaining and living in the war situation in Ukraine, accessible psychological support should be ensured.
One perspective from the liberation of Vieques that was impactful for me was the framing of the injustices faced as human right and health violations. I feel as though these two types of infractions are considered much more severe than social or racial tensions by people that don’t have a background in social justice. Everyday people can more easily understand the implications of a human rights or public health violation than those of social strain. Which is why I think framing the issue of racial dehumanization against Black Americans as a public health violation will have more success than other attempts at gaining social justice. This issue of racial dehumanization against Blacks is demonstrated in many different ways. From poor healthcare to unsafe and polluted communities. All of which lead to higher mortality rates for Black Americans.
ReplyDeleteIn Vieques they used the public health model to locate what is causing these negative impacts and addressed them directly (Torres, 2005). They found that the environment, caused by social inequality, was the source of negative health. This is the same cause for Black Americans. In the various environments that Black Americans find themselves, they are often dehumanized by other races and social systems. One aspect from Vieques I would implement to raise awareness is allowing visitors to enter these communities to see firsthand the impact (Torres, 2005). This type of experiential learning allows individuals to empathize with sufferers and can help to build support. Because a lot of the injustices that Black Americans face today are very subtle and not as overt as the previous racism they’ve experienced, it can be more difficult to accurately portray this experience to others. I would suggest that individuals that want to learn more about these conditions go to these communities with the intent to understand. They should not be trying to “help” the people living their but understand what they must endure. This will teach them to have more empathy for Black people living in harmful environments.
This understanding of the situation should be partnered with the advocacy and participatory efforts demonstrated in Vieques. Black people should be the leaders in decision making as they understand their situation fully with supporters doing what they can to educate broader society. Another important focus of Vieques’s efforts was addressing and combating all the -isms (Torres, 2005). In America it’s important to understand that Black people are often impacted by more than just racism. Barriers to education and economic growth have also made some Black individuals susceptible to classism and Black women are impacted by sexism. Understanding this intersectionality allows for effective change to be made that uplifts all aspects of a person’s life.
Torres, Maria Idali. (2005). Organizing, educating and advocating for health and human rights in
DeleteVieques, Puerto Rico. American Journal of Public Health, 95, 9-12
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ReplyDeleteIt takes a comprehensive, multipronged approach to combat the dehumanization of disabled people in conflict areas like Ukraine, one that is influenced by popular social movements like the liberation of Vieques. To bring about significant change, this approach should include community empowerment, lobbying, awareness-raising, and international cooperation.
ReplyDeleteIt is essential to start with awareness and education initiatives. The goal of these initiatives ought to be to increase public and worldwide awareness of the difficulties experienced by disabled people in Ukraine. Stories and difficulties can be extensively disseminated by combining traditional media, social media, and public events, highlighting the injustices, humanity, and strengths of these people. The message will be amplified by working with influencers, celebrities, and disability rights advocates. Educational initiatives for communities and schools can promote inclusiveness, empathy, and rights knowledge.
Advocating for changes in policy must be prioritized concurrently. This entails collaborating closely with groups and legal professionals to create and advance policy recommendations that protect and empower people with disabilities. To guarantee that these policies are acknowledged and put into effect, lobbying is necessary both inside the Ukrainian government and at international organizations like the UN. Using a data-driven strategy and showcasing success stories can help to further highlight the advantages of inclusive policy.
Another essential element is community empowerment. It is imperative to provide disabled individuals with the resources, venues, and chances to spearhead the movement on their own. The creation of community advocacy groups headed by individuals with disabilities guarantees that their perspectives are prioritized. By offering advocacy, rights, and leadership training and creating safe spaces for sharing and support, these people and their communities will be empowered even more.
Collaboration and assistance from a global scale can increase the effectiveness of these initiatives. The movement can obtain the extra funding and political pressure required for reform by assembling a coalition of foreign governments, UN organizations, and international nongovernmental organizations. By arranging international conferences and requesting legal, technical, and financial cooperation from these partners, a worldwide network of allies committed to the cause will be fostered.
Ultimately, for these efforts to be successful, monitoring and accountability must be guaranteed. Accountability for stakeholders would be ensured by a thorough mechanism to monitor policy implementation and initiative progress. In addition to keeping the public informed, releasing yearly reports on achievements and difficulties will keep pressure on national and international players to honor their end of the bargain.
Through a concerted effort that combines raising awareness, advocating for policy change, empowering communities, securing international support, and ensuring accountability, it is possible to address the dehumanization of persons with disabilities in Ukraine. This strategic plan, inspired by the liberation campaign of Vieques, holds the promise of creating a more inclusive, equitable, and just society for all individuals, particularly those who have been marginalized.
When considering an approach to dissolve dehumanization among communities, the strategy would need to be multifaceted, as there are so many different factors that play a role in dehumanization. In the context of dehumanization of women, a social worker might initially start with a needs assessment. This would allow the social worker to gain a clearer understanding of what type of dehumanization is occurring, along with any economic factors, societal and cultural norms, and resource access, or lack thereof, that is influencing the inequities. Similar to the multi-media campaign for the liberation of Vieques, Puerto Rico, the social worker might utilize the ten commitments for community health education, coined by Meredith Minkler, to establish community among affected individuals while encouraging empowerment for both individuals and the community as a whole (Minkler, 1994). Aligned with Memory Banda’s experiences, this would allow the social worker to organize efforts for the community to advocate for policy reform (Banda, 2015).
ReplyDeleteReferences
Banda, M. (n.d.). A warrior’s cry against child marriage. Memory Banda: A warrior’s cry against child marriage | TED Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/memory_banda_a_warrior_s_cry_against_child_marriage?language=en
Minkler, M. (1994). Ten Commitments for Community Health Education. Health Education Research, 9(4), 527–534. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/9.4.527
Dehumanisation in Ukraine, especially during the recent wars, is a very important issue for Ukrainians and for the world at large. To rebuild all this would require long-term and systematic action. In my opinion, the remedy for dehumanisation in Ukraine could be achieved by trying to educate people and raise their awareness on the subject, i.e. to raise awareness of human rights and dignity and to inform people about the consequences of dehumanisation, to encourage people to speak out, to discuss the bad things happening in Ukraine, to have a lot of discussion about issues that are sensitive to people, in order to reduce divisions and to dispel negative stereotypes. It is very important to implement legislation that combats discrimination and dehumanisation. The work of the International Community is particularly important: international cooperation and support for Ukraine must be promoted to protect human rights and prevent dehumanisation. Social integration must be promoted, and the diversity and integration of society must be fostered in order to strengthen solidarity and community unity. However, it must be borne in mind that dehumanisation is a deep and complex social phenomenon that needs to be changed in the long term and with the cooperation of all. It is important to integrate the prevention of dehumanisation into education systems in order to promote tolerance, diversity and acceptance. Openness, dialogue and cooperation between members of society from different ethnic groups, religious communities, etc. should be encouraged. Promote various social projects that contribute to the integration, communication and understanding of communities.
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, people who have fled Ukraine should receive psychological support, as it is the trauma that needs to be treated first. This could take the following forms: personal counselling with a psychologist; group sessions in which the victims can share their experiences; various art therapies such as music, art, etc., through which people can express their anxiety and pain in a relaxing way. The next step would be to help adults to get a job, and to give children the opportunity to study, and students to extend their studies in another country.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAs a Global social worker, drawing upon the lessons learned from the multi-media campaign for the liberation of Vieques from the U.S. Navy, my strategic plan to remedy the dehumanization of women would entail a multifaceted approach. Firstly, I would collaborate with local grassroots organizations and NGOs specializing in women's rights to establish community-based initiatives to empower women and girls. This could include setting up educational programs focused on gender equality, reproductive health, and legal rights awareness. Furthermore, by using media campaigns and community outreach initiatives akin to those utilized in the liberation movement of Vieques, we would increase awareness regarding the structural problems that sustain the dehumanization of women. By engaging with local government officials and advocating for policy changes to address gender inequality and discrimination, we would work towards dismantling the cultural and institutional barriers that uphold patriarchal norms. Moreover, fostering partnerships with international organizations like the UN Women and UNICEF would provide crucial support and resources for implementing sustainable interventions. With these cooperative efforts, we can work toward establishing a fairer and more just society in which women are acknowledged as independent beings worthy of dignity and respect.
ReplyDeleteThe Vieques tragedy has caused major health problems for the city's population and disrupted key economic sectors. The Rescue and Development Committee has set out ten principles that apply to both the Banda and Rato situations. Banda emphasised community involvement, mobilising young girls and mothers who had suffered abuse or exploitation to draw the attention of local leaders and promote solidarity with neighbouring communities. Looking at Vieques' situation, the approach focused on affirming individuality, which made it possible to regain the humanity and identity of young girls. It allowed raising awareness, combating propaganda. Vjek also advocated the creation of educational institutions and the use of the Internet for public education. Initiatives included empowering young mothers through literacy programmes, improving their educational prospects and steering them away from harmful practices. Commemorating the victims of long-term health problems caused by the bombings humanised their experiences, restoring their identity so that they were not just statistics. This approach, particularly effective in traditional communities, highlights hidden suffering and encourages others to share their stories. In my opinion, it allows us not only to question but also to question everything that is happening.
It is also important that, by fostering interpersonal connections and spreading ideas to neighbouring communities, such initiatives create the basis for broader social change. Fostering community reflection and action - from grassroots efforts to institutional reforms - paves the way for lasting change to tackle widespread problems such as identity deprivation and dehumanisation.
I think the main thing with martial law is to provide a safe environment for children. I would try to deploy children or communities in safe environments where they can safely learn, pursue their own education and attend their favourite clubs. I would also emphasise the personal aspect, which is the child's right to an opinion and to make choices. A child has the right to listen, to learn, to fulfil himself, to be safe. The most important things in the military aspect are that the child has the right to be protected from violence, bullying and humiliation. In a war situation, I would try to ensure the rights of children to be treated with respect. I would try to ensure rights and comprehensive assistance that links not only education but also proper health. I think that a social worker in this situation should help with the crises that are associated with the war situation, the losses (perhaps of parents or relatives). And I think that the most important aspect of representing rights and the profession of social worker in this situation is to speak out and spread the message, based on concrete examples and on the research that has already been carried out on the consequences of the war in Ukraine. To build on the results, to raise the issues loudly and to seek concrete solutions. The most important aspect would be for all the countries of the world to feel united and obliged to contribute to the social assistance of Ukrainian children and their families, ensuring a safe and free environment for the rising generation to fulfil itself. Lithuanian colleagues, please do not forget to call the short number: 1482.
ReplyDeletehttps://blue-yellow.lt/en/
Global social worker mid term 2.2
ReplyDeleteStrategic plan to remedy the dehumanization of persons based on race and skin color.
Addressing the dehumanization of people based on race, particularly Black people, is crucial for creating a more equitable and inclusive society. Developing a strategic plan to remedy this issue requires a multifaceted approach that tackles systemic racism, promotes education and awareness, and fosters dialogue and understanding among communities. As a social worker working with the United Nations,Here are some key strategies that I will include in such a plan:
1. Education and Awareness: Implement educational programs at schools, workplaces, and communities to raise awareness about the history of racism and its impacts on society. Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion training to foster understanding and empathy towards different racial groups.
2. Policy Reform: Advocate for policy changes at the local, state, and national levels to address systemic racism and discrimination. This can include reforms in policing practices, criminal justice system, housing policies, and employment practices to ensure equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of their race.
3. Community Engagement: Facilitate community discussions, forums, and workshops to encourage open dialogue on race-related issues. Create safe spaces for people to share their experiences, perspectives, and concerns regarding racism and discrimination.
4. Representation and Visibility: Promote diversity and representation in media, advertising, and leadership positions to combat stereotypes and promote positive portrayals of Black individuals and other marginalized groups. Encourage the amplification of diverse voices and stories.
5. Support and Resources: Allocate resources and support services to address the unique challenges faced by Black communities, including access to healthcare, education, job opportunities, mental health services, and housing. Invest in community organizations and initiatives that uplift and empower marginalized groups.
6. Allyship and Solidarity: Encourage individuals from all backgrounds to become allies in the fight against racism and discrimination. Promote solidarity among different racial groups to stand together in support of racial justice and equality.
7. Accountability and Transparency: Hold institutions, organizations, and individuals accountable for their actions and policies that perpetuate racism and discrimination. Implement mechanisms for reporting and addressing instances of racial bias and prejudice.
8. Historical Reckoning: Acknowledge and address the historical legacy of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism that continues to impact Black communities today. Support efforts to memorialize and commemorate the struggles and contributions of Black individuals throughout history.
9. Empowerment and Leadership Development:
Invest in leadership development programs for Black individuals and other marginalized groups to empower them to take on leadership roles in various sectors. Support initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities.
10. Evaluation and Progress Monitoring: Establish metrics and indicators to track progress in addressing racial disparities and promoting racial equity. Regularly evaluate the impact of initiatives and policies to ensure they are effectively remedying dehumanization and promoting positive change.
By implementing a strategic plan that incorporates these key components, society can work towards remedying the dehumanization of people based on race, particularly Black individuals, and building a more just, equitable, and inclusive community for all.
My strategic plan would involve a multi-media campaign to raise awareness about dehumanization, incorporating personal narratives to humanize affected individuals. Empowerment and advocacy efforts aim to amplify marginalized voices and demand justice. Solidarity and coalition building foster alliances to combat dehumanization, while legal and policy advocacy seeks reforms and accountability. Providing psychosocial support and healing services, along with education and cultural sensitization, promotes empathy, tolerance, and respect for diversity. Overall, the plan aims to address the root causes of dehumanization and promote human rights, peace, and reconciliation.
ReplyDeleteDana Morozovienė
ReplyDeleteThere are many NGOs in Lithuania fighting for women's rights and for survivors of domestic violence, both physical and psychological. Publicising the services provided by organisations. Providing women with personal counselling from a psychologist and assistance from a social worker. Organisations or crisis centres to mediate with other instances and to help with employment and accommodation conditions. Health care. For children, organisations or crisis centres would provide a comprehensive range of facilities for formal education, pre-school and non-formal education activities, attendance at day-care centres, group activities and art therapies such as music, art, etc. Women who have experienced violence and rape could confess their experiences, pain, fear and thus relax, overcome their fears and self-confidence and regain their dignity.