From SEAP #4 2026 Social Scope Newsletter Recently Malaysia’s progress on meeting fundamental child rights was reviewed in Geneva by a United Nations panel of experts. High on their list of key recommendations was to strengthen, without delay, professional social work in all sectors, especially in the public sector. To those working with children, especially child protection, this is no surprise. It has long been recognised that as a country we have a long way to go to provide the skilled, child and family sensitive interventions required to protect and nurture vulnerable children. This...

Featured article from Global Newsletter February 2026 Written by Philippe Narval, Austria Remarks Delivered at the Ronda Conference (April 2025) In November 2016, I stood outside the Javits Center in New York City, standing in a slow-moving queue behind tight security. Inside, more than a thousand people had gathered to celebrate what many believed would be a historic moment—the election of the first female U.S. president. While we waited, I chatted with a couple next to me. They were relaxed, almost relieved. The night felt decided. And then it wasn’t. That was the first time Donald...

From SEAP #2 2026 Social Scope NewsletterWritten by Laura Capote If the goal is to end violence and economic dependence on coca cultivation, then the starting point should not be militarization or eradication, but the reconstruction of rural life. The constant insistence of the US discourse on the war on drugs seems to reflect a moral crusade by successive US administrations to rid their country of drug use. However, the truth is far removed from this simplistic idea that is often perpetuated by the mass media. In reality, what the so-called “War on Drugs” seeks to achieve, as...

Featured article from Global Newsletter January 2026 Written by Dr. Cornelia C. Walther. Senior fellow Wharton/Harvard. Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo. Artificial intelligence is quietly becoming part of how societies decide who gets help, when, and under what conditions. From benefits eligibility to housing support, from disability assessments to unemployment services, algorithms are increasingly embedded in systems that touch the most vulnerable moments of people’s lives. This is...

Excerpt from SEAP #1 29 Newsletter On September 20, 2025, David Korten delivered this talk for “The DEATH and Life of the Green Building Summit,” held in the Cascadia bioregion and hosted by the School of Regenerative Design. My friends in the Living Building Challenge movement, For two decades, the Living Building Challenge has set the world’s boldest standards for architectural design. It called for buildings that are self-sufficient in energy and water, free of toxic materials, and designed for beauty and human well-being. That was a breakthrough. It changed the conversation about...

Featured Article From Global Newsletter - December 2025Insights from Namibia Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most persistent social and human rights challenges in Namibia and across Southern Africa. The Problematic Mindsets Report presents a rare and critical contribution to GBV research by centring the voices of perpetrators, survivors, and frontline service providers to better understand the underlying drivers of violence and identify pathways for more effective prevention and response. Unlike many studies that focus exclusively on survivors, this qualitative...

Featured Article From Global Newsletter - November 2025by Sergei Zelenev, ICSW President Introduction The discussion on integrated social policy featured prominently in ICSW’s engagement at the Second World Social Summit, reflecting months of sustained analytical preparation and strategic dialogue. The preparatory phase for the ICSW- sponsored Solutions Session, held in Doha, extended over two months—a substantial investment of time justified by both the political significance of the Summit and the opportunity it offered ICSW to articulate its vision before a global audience. This...

Republic of Georgia has experienced significant political and social tension. Post-election disappointment led many citizens to shift their focus to the 2025 local elections.

Featured Article From Global Newsletter - August-September 2025By Bachir Tamer President of MENA Region of CIAS & Driss Guerraoui, Member of the Executive Committee of CIAS Social protection transcends the mere notion of a safety net; it serves as a pivotal instrument for forging a more equitable society, mitigating disparities, and fostering sustainable economic development. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, it manifests in diverse forms, encompassing social security programs, informal assistance, and governmental initiatives such as cash transfers, health...