IFSW Europe e.V.

The international Federation of Social Workers IFSW Europe e.V. is an umbrella organisation for professional social work associations in Europe. It represents all in all 165,600 social workers in 35 countries. It is affiliated to IFSW (Global) which was established in 1956 and represents social work associations worldwide.

IFSW Europe e.V. objectives are:

• promote social work as a profession through international co- operation, especially regarding professional values, standards, ethics, human rights, recognition and working conditions
• promote the establishment of national organisations of social workers
• support social work organisations in promoting the participation of social workers in social planning and the formulation of social policies, nationally and internationally

The means of action are:

• to encourage co-operation between European countries on the basis of equity of participation
• to provide means for discussion and the exchange of ideas and experiences through meetings, study visits, research projects, exchanges publications and other methods of communication
• to establish and maintain relationship with, and present and promote the views of social work organisations and their members to international organisations relevant to social development and welfare
• to represent the social work profession in the Council of Europe, and
• to represent the social work profession to the institutions of the European Union
• to promote the rights of service users