“No one will be left behind”: Social Work and Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges for social work practice, education and research.”-

It is a great pleasure for Ís-Forsa, The Association of Icelandic Social Workers and the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Iceland to host this Nordic event and to welcome all the participants.

During the conference we hope to have an open dialogue, critical discussion and mutual exchange with a focus on sustainable social work in a broad context.  We will discuss the role and responsibility of social work in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, that were adopted by the UN General Assembly and launched in 2016. The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. It should be very natural to the social work profession to work towards the SDG goals, as is evident from the global definition of social work that was approved in 2014:

 “Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work.  Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing” (IFSW/IASSW 2014).

We look forward seeing you in Reykjavík.  We hope that the Forsa Conference 2021 in Reykjavík will be a stimulating event with an interesting and challenging professional programme, exciting workshops and critical dialogue.

We are looking forward to meeting you in Reykjavík!

On behalf of the organizing committee in Iceland, 

Steinunn Hrafnsdóttir, Steinunn Bergmann and Guðbjörg Ottósdóttir