DECEMBER 2002

ICSW is pleased to reissue its newsletter, formerly known as ICSW Information, to provide our network with up to date information on ICSW's work at global, regional and local levels.

Global Cooperation will be sent monthly and we hope that it provides a greater way to connect and cooperate to promote social development.

Global Conference 2002 & 2004

  • 30th International Conference on Social Welfare
    Rotterdam, The Netherlands 24-28 June 2002
    ICSW expresses its tremendous gratitude to The Netherlands Institute of Care and Welfare for their expert hosting of the 30th ICSW Global Biennial Conference. The conference theme, Bridging the Gaps: Economic Social and Cultural Opportunities at Global and Local Levels, allowed participants to delve into a wide range of international social concerns. NIZW's website http://websrv1.nizw.nl/icsw2002/ presents an overview of and a number of papers from the highly successful event. Printed proceedings will be sent to all conference attendants in the New Year and others will be able to access the information through the ICSW and NIZW websites.

  • 31st International Conference on Social Welfare 2004
    The Executive Committee of ICSW in consultation with Global Conference Selection Committee has chosen Kuala Lampur, Malaysia as the location for the next ICSW Global Biennial Conference. The host organization, The National Council of Welfare and Social Development Malaysia, will be working closely with ICSW to plan an engaging and significant international event. Future issues will provide updates on their progress.

Regional Conferences 2003

  • South Asian Peoples Summit
    Islamabad, Pakistan 11-13 January 2003
    This meeting, chaired by ICSW's Regional President for Central and South Asia, will engage regional civil society leaders in advocacy about the need to use regional instruments to address social problems which know no borders. The summit will proceed although it was intended to run alongside the 12th SAARC Summit, which has been postponed due to a diplomatic breakdown. A report will be provided in an upcoming issue.

  • ICSW Europe Regional Symposium
    Oslo, Norway 11-13 June 2003
    The 2003 European regional conference themed, Different Faces of Poverty - Fighting Social Exclusion, will emphasise the roles that non governmental organizations in social work can take to address poverty, social problems and social exclusion in different European societies. Comparisons between Western and Eastern Europe will allow practitioners to explore varied approaches. Invitations, program and registration materials will be sent out 1-03, the deadline for submission for abstracts is 15-4-03. Enquiries can be addressed vial email: ICSW@congrex.no

  • 30th ICSW Asia-Pacific Conference
    Taipei, Taiwan 1-5 September 2003
    The National Council of Social Welfare, Taiwan, will host a regional conference on: Globalization, Employment and Social Welfare. The event will explore issues concerning globalization's impact on social welfare in the region. The 1st round of presentation proposals will close 28-2-03, the 2nd Announcement and Registration Form will be sent 1-3-03, and the 2nd round of presentation proposals and end of early registration fee will close 31-7-03. Detailed information is available by emailing: icsw_taiwan@yahoo.com

New Global Officers

Solveig Askjem, Regional President for Europe, and Bushra Gohar, Regional President for Central and South Asia, have been appointed as Global Vice Presidents in order to provide greater direction and support to ICSW. Solveig Askjem has had a distinguished career as a social work practitioner and academic and is Senior Advisor to Network Norway Council's secretariat. She is the former President of Norwegian Forum of Health and Social Issues (NHSF), a national committee of ICSW, and has served on the boards of several prominent Norwegian social welfare organizations and has been greatly involved in the national, regional and global work of ICSW for many years.

Bushra Gohar has served as Director of Human Resources Management & Development Centre, a NGO based in the North West Frontier Province, Pakistan since 1994. Bushra has a MSc in Human Resources Management over 19 year's of experience in policy development, planning, organizing and implementing human rights and development programmes in Pakistan and the region. She is a member of several national and regional bodies on social welfare and the status of women. She has represented the civil society and the Government of Pakistan in the United Nations and other International forums on several occasions.

Michael Raper is now serving as ICSW's Treasurer. He has been the Director of the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney, Australia, a community legal centre, which specialises in Social Security law and policy since 1990. He is the Immediate Past President of ACOSS, ICSW's national member in Australia, and is the current President of the National Welfare Rights Network in Australia. Michael was awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal this year. He has presented at ICSW conferences and been active in ICSW's network in South East Asia and The Pacific for many several years.

New Regional President

Farah Daghistani, the new Executive Director of our Jordanian national member, The Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development has been appointed Regional President for North Africa and the Middle East. Farah previously served as the Director of The Queen Zein AL Sharaf Institute for Development and the Princess Basma Women's Resource Center and she holds an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Farah recently represented ICSW at the Fourth Global Forum on Reinventing Government, 11-13 December in Marrakesh, Morocco and plans to host a Civil Society Forum in the North Africa and the Middle East region in early 2003.

ICSW Staff

Denys Correll has been serving as ICSW's Executive Director in the London office since August 2002. Denys has a extensive background in executive leadership of organizations involved in social policy. Before coming to ICSW he served eleven years as the National Executive Director of Australia's most influential organization of older people. During this time he held the post of Vice President of the International Federation on Ageing. Denys has degrees in Politics and History and Social Administration. He is one of only 14 Fellows of the Australian Society of Association Executives, which recognises outstanding contribution to organizational management.

Felicity Daly has recently been appointed Project Officer in ICSW's Secretariat. Felicity has been working part time with ICSW for over a year while earning a MSc in Development Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She has over a decade of experience in administration of social service organizations in the United States, has worked in project management for NGOs involved in health care and micro-finance in developing countries and for international NGOs focused on community development and inter religious collaboration.

Roslyn Nakira maintains ICSW's crucial presence in Africa serving as Programme Assistant/Administrator at the office in Kampala and also coordinates global membership outreach. She holds a BA degree from Makerere University and has previously worked in programme management and research for Ugandan national organizations. She is also an active member of several organizations focusing on health services, environment and religion.

If you have any questions or need further information on any of the activities or issues mentioned in this newsletter, please contact: Felicity Daly, Project Officer, at the Secretariat in London, or reply to this email. icsw@icsw.org.