2025 Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations

Looking Back to Move Forward

April 4, 2025
10 a.m. 
Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters, New York City

Thank you to our Cosponsors:

Permanent Mission of Morocco to the United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations
International Organization on Migration

Financial support for this program was provided by:

Council on Social Work Education, Katherine A. Kendall Institute
Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University
International Council on Social Welfare
National Association of Social Workers-USA
National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey
National Association of Social Workers – New York & New York City
School of Social Work, University of Connecticut 
School of Social Work, Monmouth University
Knoxville College of Social Work, University of Tennessee
Graduate School of Social Work, Touro University

 

Social Work Day Planning Committee

Shirley Gatenio Gabel, IASSW
Robin Mama, IFSW
Sergei Zelenev, ICSW
Rebeca Thomas, IASSW
Sophia Caporusso, IFSW

Welcome Messages from our International Presidents

Sergei Zelenev
President, International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW)

On behalf of the International Council on Social Welfare, I am honored to extend my greetings to this distinguished gathering of experts, social workers, social development practitioners, and the future of the profession—students—as we celebrate Social Work Day at the United Nations.
Today, we recognize and honor the essential role social workers play in our societies—delivering critical services, advocating for social justice, and enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities. This celebration highlights the humanistic and people-centered nature of the social work profession, which strengthens social cohesion. Through their dedication and daily efforts, social workers actively support and complement the work of the United Nations in advancing sustainable social development and effective welfare programs.

As president of the International Association of Schools of Social Work, I welcome you to SW Day at the United Nations in NY.   As you know, our association represents social work education at the international level and has its delegates at the UN in New York, Geneva, and Bangkok.
 
We recognise the significant role that social workers play in building a more just, equal, and sustainable world. Reflecting on the achievements and challenges of social development since the 1995 Social Development Declaration, we reaffirm our commitment to working with people, communities, and organisations to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. This requires social and economic inclusion, as well as solidarity across generations, to ensure the well-being of both people and the planet. We salute the dedicated efforts of social workers in fostering sustainable social transformation, where both humanity and the Earth can thrive together.

 

Joachim Cuthbert Mumba
President, International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)

As we celebrate Social Work Day under the theme “Looking Back to Move Forward,” we are reminded that progress is built on the wisdom of the past. Social work has long been a catalyst for justice, dignity, and human rights shaping policies, transforming lives, and strengthening communities. By reflecting on our collective journey, we honor the struggles, resilience, and achievements that have paved the way for a more just and inclusive world. As social workers, we have a vital role in promoting peace, strengthening accountability, and ensuring that our profession remains committed to the people we serve. Now, more than ever, we must harness the lessons of history to drive bold, innovative solutions that address today’s global challenges. Let us reaffirm our commitment to solidarity, equity, and lasting wellbeing, ensuring that future generations inherit a world built on justice and compassion.

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Social Work Day at the United Nations 2025
Program

10:00 a.m.
Welcome
A word about our program
Shirley Gatenio Gabel, Co-Chair SW Day, IASSW
Sergei Zelenev, President ICSW 

10:10 a.m.
Welcome to the United Nations
The Honorable Ambassador Omar Hilale, Morocco's Permanent Representative to the United Nations 

Charles Katoanga, Director of the UN DESA’s Division for Inclusive Social Development  

Pär Liljert, Director for IOM Office to the United Nations  International Organization for Migration (IOM)

 

10:45 a.m.
Social work at the United Nations: Looking back to go forward
Lynne Healy, Main Representative to the UN NY & Professor Emeritus, University of Connecticut

11:05 a.m.
Panel Discussion: Social Workers at the United Nations: Past and Future Roles

• Martha Bragin, Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
• Stephanie Asare, World Bank & Chair NASW International Committee
• Gloria Kirwan, Senior Lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland & ICSW Representative to the UN in Geneva

11:40 a.m.
Question & Answer
Sergei Zelenev, ICSW

11:45 a.m.
Wrap-up & Summary
Megan Fujita, CSWE

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Speakers Biographies

The Honorable Ambassador Omar Hilale, has been Morocco's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York since he was appointed in this position in April 2014. Formerly, he was the permanent representative of Morocco to the UN in Geneva.

Ambassador Hilale, is co-facilitating the UN's preparatory process for the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) in 2025.  The WSSD2 is a significant global event aimed at fostering inclusive social development and addressing key challenges to achieve well-being for all.

Ambassador Hilale is a graduate of the Mohammed V. University in Rabat where he obtained a bachelor's degree in political science in 1974. He served in many diplomatic posts such as ambassador to Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, between 1996 and 2001. He was the General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation between 2005 and 2008. In November 2008 he became Representative of Morocco to the UN in Geneva. He was appointed co-facilitator for the process of strengthening the United Nations human rights treaty bodies in 2020. 

 

Charles Katoanga, since 2024, leads the Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD), which serves as the UN system focal point on Youth, Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, Families, Cooperatives, the social dimensions of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and Sport for Development and Peace, and coordinates follow-up to the 1995 World Summit for Social Development. 

Director of the Division by the Secretary-General in September 2024, following a 24-year career in the United Nations Secretariat. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Katoanga was the Chief of Staff of the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. He has served in the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Department of Management.

Before joining the United Nations Secretariat, Mr. Katoanga worked for the Government of Fiji and the New Zealand Official Development Assistance bilateral programmes in Fiji and Tuvalu and its Pacific Regional programme.

Mr. Katoanga is a graduate of the University of the South Pacific and Santa Clara University as well as executive education programmes of the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
He is  of Fijian and Tongan descent and a national of Fiji. 

 

 

Pär Liljert was appointed the Director for IOM Office to the United Nations  International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2022. Prior to taking up his current position Mr. Liljert served as the Chief of Mission; Coordinator and Advisor for New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, based in IOM’s Country Office with Coordination Functions (CORF) in Canberra, Australia. For seven years (2011 to 2018) he served as IOM’s Special Envoy & Chief of Mission in P.R. China, representing IOM in China and Mongolia. His international civil servant career with IOM includes postings as Chief of Mission in Tanzania (2007 – 2011) and Chief of Mission in Zambia (2002 – 2004). He started his IOM career as a Regional Programme Officer in IOM’s regional office in Pretoria and he has also served as Donor Relations Officer in IOM’s Headquarters. Prior to joining IOM he worked at the Swedish Embassy in Botswana.   During his time as COM & Special Envoy in Beijing P.R. China became a member state of IOM and the IOM’s Africa Capacity Building Center (ACBC) was established in Moshi during the time he served as COM in Tanzania.  Pär holds a master’s degree in political science from the Lund University in Sweden.  

 

Lynne M. Healy, Ph.D., MSW, is Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Emerita, University of Connecticut School of Social Work. She taught at the University of Connecticut for more than thirty years and was also a visiting Professor at the University of the West Indies and visiting lecturer at the University of Mauritius. Currently, Dr. Healy is Main Representative to the United Nations for the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and a member of the NGO Committee for Social Development. She also serves on the board of a small nonprofit organization, Water for Cambodia. Her many past voluntary roles include service as Secretary and Vice President of the IASSW, Chair of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) International Commission and member of the CSWE Board, and roles within the U.S. National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She has published extensively on international social work, human service agency leadership and management, ethics, and human rights. Her most recent book is International Social Work: Professional Action in an Interdependent World (with Rebecca Thomas, Oxford University Press, 2021).  Dr. Healy is a member of the Editorial Board of the Encyclopedia of Social Work Online, and several journal boards. She received the 2014 Katherine Kendall award for contributions to international social work from IASSW and the Partners in International Education Individual award from CSWE in 2004. In 2017, she was named a Social Work Pioneer by NASW.

 

Martha Bragin, PhD, LCSW is jointly appointed Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, CUNY and the Doctoral Program in Social Welfare, serving as Chairperson of Global Social Work and Practice with Immigrants and Refugees. She joined the faculty after 25 years of experience supporting governments, non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies using community participatory methods to address the effects of violence and disaster on children, youth and families both in the US and internationally. She is a member of the IASC Reference Group (UN-NGO) on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. Dr Bragin represents the International Association of Schools of Social Work before ECOSOC as part of the UN team and at the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Emergencies where she brings a social work perspective to standards on Community led Practice with Children in Emergencies as well as participatory methods in Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation. She is also a member of the steering committee of the NASW New York City Immigration Committee, where she actively supports the organizations advocacy to bring NYC policy and practice with migrants in line with international standards.

 

Stephanie Asare Nti, MSW, LCSW, Stephanie is a licensed Mental Health Clinician, certified in substance use treatment, with 20 years of experience working with global communities, providing counseling services and psychoeducation trainings focusing on trauma, depression, substance use and addictions, parenting, early childhood developmental disorders, and domestic abuse with a specialization in working with men.  Stephanie has lived and worked in Canada, Europe, the United States, and West Africa and worked for international organizations such as the World Bank Group and World Bank Group Family Network, and the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.  She is a trained Making Mental Health REAL facilitator for the World Bank Group.  

Stephanie is pursuing her Social Work doctorate in Human Rights Leadership at Monmouth University.  Stephanie is a former NASW Board member, and immediate past President of the NASW Maryland Chapter.  She currently chairs the NASW International Committee and has recently been appointed to serve on NASWs Standards of Care for Suicide Taskforce.  Stephanie is the founder and CEO of Social Workers Beyond Borders Inc. and Behavioral Health International, LLC.  

 

Gloria Kirwan is a Senior Lecturer in the Graduate School of Healthcare Management and Program Director of the MSc Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare. She is also the UN-Geneva Representative of the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW). Prior to joining RCSI, Gloria previously held appointments in Trinity College Dublin (2000-2018) and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (2018-2022), where she was involved in professional social work education. In addition to her professional social work qualifications, Gloria has studied law and social science to Masters level and successfully completed her PhD in 2017 on the topic of participation service users in health and social care decision-making contexts. Gloria currently serves as Editor of three journals, Groupwork (Whiting & Birch Publishers), the Journal of Social Work Practice (Taylor & Francis) and the Irish Social Worker (Irish Association of Social Work). In her spare time, Gloria is involved in a number of national voluntary organizations in the field of health and social services.

 

Megan Fujita, PhD, MSW is the Vice President of Education and former Executive Director of Accreditation at the Council on Social Work Education, the national body for social work education in the United States. As the Vice President she leads strategic development of educational programming, research, grants and special initiatives. This work advances to the development of social work faculty and future practitioners across the U.S. In this role, she oversees the operations of Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Social Work, which prepares educators, researchers, students, and practitioners for an increasingly global community through its projects that help prepare United States students for global citizenship and opportunities for international social work. 

Dr. Fujita is an expert in policy, social work education, and program evaluation. She holds a PhD in education policy and research methodology from George Mason University and a Master’s of Social Work in interpersonal practice and mental health from the University of Michigan. She has held administrative and faculty appointments at George Washington University School of Nursing and George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development.