'We, the International Federation of Social Workers (IFWS). The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW)...feel compelled to advocate for a New World Order' - The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development Commitment to Action, March 2012.
According to the website of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services in England (ADASS)
'The Social Services workforce connects globally through the IFSW. It is a recognised NGO at the UN and works with the IASSW and ICSW to promote the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development, a ten year project reporting to the UN and WHO. In 2015 there will be a major European event in the UK hosted by BASW, involving the whole social services sector that will contribute to this work, under the second theme - promoting the dignity and worth of people'.
The Association of Directors of Childrens Services (ADCS) held their annual conference at the Midland Hotel in Manchester between 8 - 10 July, 2015. Their website indicated that
'A Chatham House Plenary Session for all ADCS members will take place from 11am on Thursday 9th July'.
The Chatham House Rule or rules is a system for holding debate and discussion panels on controversial issues, named after the headquarters of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. The rule, in its' current form, states
'When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speakers, nor that of any other participant, may be revealed'.
In our view, the Chatham House rule is a barrier to openess and transparency. For example, it prevents the public from knowing whether the Global Agenda for Social Work was under discussion during that plenary session. What other controversial issues were discussed that required a 'behind closed doors' approach?.?
We understand that the Nottingham CSE Inquiry Group organised a rally outside the Midland Hotel to coincide with the ACDS July Conference. The following video provides a record of their attendance and brings into focus many of their outstanding concerns. It appears that there were 'designated tweeters' from within this conference and the programme makers have included a selection of 'tweets' which provide a chilling glimpse of their thinking.
