Establishing the Relevance of Ubuntu in Social Work. A Human Rights Perspective

Overview: Ubuntu philosophy has launched the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development 2020-2030. Ubuntu is known for the axiom, "a person is a person because of other persons". The impetus of this paper is to appreciate the relevance of Ubuntu in Social Work and Human Rights.Proposal text: Humans rights are fundamental to social work profession (Chigangaidze, 2022). The concept of human rights has been conceptualized mainly from Western philosophies and rarely from the African perspective. Essentially, Ubuntu has attained attention within the global social work community and launched the Global Social Work and Social Development Agenda 2020-2030 (Mayaka & Truell, 2021). Ubuntu has been conceptualized as an African philosophy of humanness, generosity, kindness, social solidarity, human rights and community development (Mugumbate & Chereni, 2019). In addition, Ubuntu is a quality of life and a value of Social Work. There is a gap in global social work literature on the applicability of Ubuntu in Human Rights in Social Work, albeit human rights are at the centre of the profession. Ubuntu philosophy promotes social development, human dignity, peace, love and good health (Chigangaidze, 2021). Utilizing the human rights approach, this paper expands the relevance of Ubuntu in Social Work.

The paper will discuss of Ubuntu as a philosophy that advances the human rights to health, adequate food and nutrition, development, peace, clean and safe environment, water and sanitation, education and other vital rights. The paper utilises the Ubuntu philosophy in expanding these rights and show it's relevance to both Social Work Education and Practice. Furthermore, the paper advances the need to include indigenous knowledge systems, ecospirituality and inclusivity in Social Work and human rights. Ubuntu philosophy also connects to the rights of nature (RON). Also, the paper ratifies Ubuntu as a philosophy that advocates for Afrocentric social work can utilize in decolonizing the profession.

The presentation will help advance diversity, indigenous knowledge systems, the concepts of humanity, human rights and the philosophical understanding of , 'I am because you are' in Social Work.