10th ASEAN Social Work Consortium Conference opens

The 10th ASEAN Social Work Consortium Conference (ASWC) Conference opened in an online format on September 21, under the theme “Social workers at the Heart of COVID-19 recovery”.

At the conference (Photo: The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs)
At the conference (Photo: The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs)

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Van Hoi spoke highly of the association's efforts to contribute to promoting the profession of social work and social security in the region.

With the early promulgation of the terms of reference, the specific action plan and through annual conferences, the association is increasingly strengthening the cohesion among practitioners, staff, and lecturers at social work training schools, he added.

At the two-day conference, with open sessions, representatives of ASEAN's specialised agencies and partners shared and exchanged views on the role of the social work sector in COVID-19 prevention, control and recovery, with a focus on medical care and social welfare.

Discussion at the conference was expected to serve as a basis for promoting the construction of a professional social work and social service system in ASEAN member countries in the coming time, especially in the new context.

The conference was also expected to adopt a roadmap for the implementation of the Hanoi Declaration on Promoting Social Work towards a Cohesive and Proactive ASEAN Community, and to finalise the Work Plan for the 2021-2025 period.