Golam Mathbor, Ph.D., professor in the School of Social Work, delivered a virtual speech as the Opening Guest of Honor at the World Social Work Day 2022: Fifth International Conference, “Co-Building a New Eco-Social World: Leave No One Behind (Achieving Community Resilience and Sustainable Development Goals).”
The conference was held in Bangladesh from May 25-27, in person and virtually, and was organized by the Community Social Work Practice and Development Foundation in partnership with the Peoples University of Bangladesh and additional organizations.
During his speech, Mathbor touched on a variety of social issues including the increasing global need for mental health counseling and gender disparity in developed countries.
He additionally mentioned that organizations, like the International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Workers, require more collaboration and partnerships influencing social and economic policies to safeguard the interest of our vulnerable population globally. “Unless we work together, our world will remain endangered,” he said in his speech.
Delegates from 37 countries were in attendance in addition to top-ranking global leaders of social work education and practice, while Honorable State Minister for Social Welfare of the Government of Bangladesh Md. Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru served as the Chief Guest of Honor. Overall, 106 selected papers were presented, along with a number of plenary sessions and technical sessions.
“Both top leadership executives of International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Workers were present and spoke during the opening and closing ceremonies of the conference. I feel deeply honored to have been invited as the Guest of Honor and to have given my speech,” Mathbor said.
The purpose of the annual conference is to bring social workers, researchers, development professionals, academicians, scholars and social work graduates to the same avenue due to sharing and caring thoughts and to grow enthusiasts. It also aims to rebuild a resilient world by ensuring human rights and social justice for all people and connecting all people for achieving sustainable development goals.