The Importance of an International Outlook in the Social Work Profession

One of the respects in which we believe the social work profession is and must be unique, is in its beyond borders focus. Whilst most non-profit professions twnd to have a more domestic focus, we believe that the 'social' nature of social work means that sharing experience, expertise and ideas across borders and cultures is crucial.

At its heart, social work involves helping people. If we are to take seriously the idea that people are more similair than different then the more shared experience we can collect, the more ways of helping individuals we have. For example, counsellors working in a school in the UK may be able to learn a lot from the work of the someone in the same position in Palestine. Learing how Palestinian consellors talk to and assist those who have experienced the violence and death that are realities of life under occupation can be transferrable to children who for example may have experience of gang related violence or domestic violence in the UK. The more we share techniques and attitudes towards social work across borders, the more we can understand how to relate to people with all different life experienced and the better equipped those working in the profession are.

Moreover, the profession of social work can be emotionally demanding. Sharing support and solidarity is crucial to instilling a sense of value and personal motivation in workers when the job is challenging. Knowing that such important work is being done across the world by those who are motivated by the importance of their role- not any appeal to status or money - can be hugely motivating in itself.

We appeal to social workers everywhere to maintain this outlook and where possible to forge links, communication and partnerships with those in the profession in other countries. The rewards this brings to the standard of social work delivery as well as sense personal self development we believe are unparalleled. 

 

Palestine and the problem of water

Currently, I am sitting at my desk at the Bethlehem union offices with two bottles of water on my desk as the office supply has run out.  Such a lack of water is a constant concern and frequent reality for Palestinians. The 'co-operative agreement' over water (that according to Al Jazeera's business hour bodes well for future co-operations given the prospect of growing water scarcity worldwide) makes an enjoyable shower impossible and washing up dishes a strategy to be mastered. 

 

Palestine is naturally well endowed with water: the West Bank is located in the upstream portion of the Limestone Groundwater Aquifer System and in the downstream of the Jordan River Basin while Gaza Strip is located in the downstream portion of the Coastal Groundwater Aquifer System. However, following the 1967 war, Israel imposed strict restrictions on well drilling and construction of water distribution networks which left 25 % of the Palestinians without piped water supply.
Israel is currently utilizing about 80 percent of the Palestinian groundwater resources and denying Palestinians their rightful utilization of the Jordan River. Palestinians are currently allocated 80 mcm per year for domestic use leaving the per capita consumption under suppressed demand at an average of 30 cm/year which is far below the required standards of water supply. For agriculture, Palestinians have access to 150 mcm per year which they are using to irrigate around 10% of their cultivated lands while Israel is enjoying abundant water to irrigate 50 % of its cultivated land. The situation is exacerbated by the colonization of the West Bank and Gaza by Jewish settlers who are consuming more than 90 mcm per year from Palestinian water resources. For any new nisitor to Palestine, the give away sign of what is an Israeli settlement, not a Palestinian community, is the lack of water tanks on the roof. Palestinians have just these tanks to supply their water needs and have to make each supply last a fortnight. With large families, frequently more than 6 children, occupying small homes- a little does not go a long way. 

According to Oslo II agreement, Israel recognized the Palestinian water rights, but these are to be negotiated in the permanent status negotiations. However, so far, no negotiations have taken place to enumerate the Palestinian water rights. The issue of Palestinian water rights will be one of the most difficult issues in the permanent status negotiations. Palestinian water rights include both the groundwater of the West Bank and Gaza Aquifer Systems and the surface water of the Jordan River Basin.
Unless the Palestinian water rights are addressed immediately and properly according to the international laws and principles that will translate their water rights to actual water in their pipes, Palestinians will remain the thirsty partner in the Middle East with a severe water crisis that will impact the sustainability of the peace process. 

 

For more on this, visit original article here
 

 

Private Sector discrimination against women must be stopped. 

InPalestine we have a very unusual situation where the most highly qualified women also suffer from the highest rate of unemployment.Whilst unemployment among young people is very high- 16.8%, women suffer from discrimination by private sector employers who are resuctant to take on women for fear of maternity leave. Women's participation in higher education has increased significantly over the last few years, however this has correlated to only a 2% increase in levels of employment, leaving the the unemployment rate for males in Palestine was 21.2% compared with 35.3% for females. In fact, women who do not attend university are more likely to have a job as it is skilled employment where discrimination sets in most harshly. About 83.9 percent of unemployed women have completed 13 years of schooling or more compared to 16.3 percent of unemployed males

 

As social workers this is a problem for a number of reasons. Firstly, aspirations among parents and women has increased as the qualifications open to and being attainable by women has increased. Yet these expectations are not being met. Parents and students invest a lot of emotional and pysical time as we;; as money into getting themselves qualified so that they may be independant and participants in the workplace. Travel is expensive and often long as it may involve passing checkpoints. Women have to pay for resources such as stationary and books and the hopes of eager, hard working students must be met by attainable outcomes, if such participation is to continue. Yet the private sector employs men over equally or more qualified women for fear of losing their workers to the demands of the family.

 

During Palestine's unemployment week, the private sector emerged as a major vehicle through which unemployment rates may be addressed. There are many ways in which the private sector can do more: pay a minimum wage to the 43% who are currently working for less, provide skills training and improve capacity and innovation. Yet a first step towards helping our graduates, in all sectors, must be the equal treatment of job applicants. It was noteable that at a conference on unemployment in Bethlehem, the majority of student atendees were women- highlighting their need for such assistence and awareness of the difficulties that would fact them.           

 

Whilst cultural issues and skill adequacy prevent some women from persuing the same career paths as their male counterparts- for the most part it is not lack of skills on the female supply side but lack of demand from private sector employers who operate a policy of gender discrimination. This amount to simple workplace sexism and if not addressed will have long-term affects on the well-being, independance and aspirations of Palestinian women.