An Event on Social Work in Kazakhstan was held on the Sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session in New York, DKnews.kz reports.
On the sidelines the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, Third Committee a side event was held on “Strengthening the Human Capacity in Social Services for the Protection of Children and Women in Kazakhstan and the Critical Role of Social Work as a Profession to Achieve the SDGs”. The event was organized by the National Professional Alliance of Social Workers of Kazakhstan with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
The hybrid event brought together UN representatives, delegates, social work professionals, academics, and NGO representatives to discuss the vital role of social work in advancing the socio-economic agenda and protecting vulnerable populations.
Several presentations were made at the event. Speakers included Michael Sherraden, Professor of the Department of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis; Muslim Khasenov, Associate Professor at M. Narikbaev University; Zhanar Abdykalykova, Senior Lecturer at Narxoz University; and Anne S. Deepak, Representative to the UN of the International Federation of Social Workers.
Dinara Yessimova, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Professional Social Workers of Kazakhstan and Professor at L. Gumilyov Eurasian National University moderated the event.
Participants discussed Kazakhstan’s experience in promoting social work and identified key strategies for leveraging social work to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in protecting children and women.
Discussants highlighted the need for ongoing collaboration between governments, international organizations, and civil society to ensure social work plays a central role in achieving the SDGs.
The event fostered a productive dialogue on the importance of investing in social work education, promoting ethical practices, and creating supportive environments for social workers.
