Social Workers Against Genocide

Our code of ethics 6.04 Social and Political Action states that social workers should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical disability.

The charge set forth in the sixth section of the NASW Code of Ethics, "Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader Society," is not limited to certain social workers practicing in certain contexts, such as advocacy, policy, government, or community organization. This charge applies to all social workers in all practice settings.

Standard 6.04 (c–d) requires social workers to respect cultural and social diversity, and to work toward preventing and eliminating exploitation based on discrimination, whether in their locality or on the other side of the globe.

We cannot take a neutral stance when a genocide is occurring in Gaza. We demand the National Association of Social Workers recognize their complicit nature during a genocide goes against our professions' code of ethics. In being complicit, our association is standing on the side of the oppressor and feeding into white supremist systems of oppression. We look to our association for guidance in such matters and at present they are failing us. We are asking NASW to challenge the propaganda that US and Israeli government officials are providing the world, and instead, relay information from people on the ground in Gaza that are experiencing this genocide firsthand. We are asking that NASW coordinates efforts and joins forces with other associations to provide resources such as food, water, clothing, etc. to the people in Gaza. We are asking NASW to use their lobbying resources and political advocacy to demand a ceasefire. We are asking NASW for a full statement denouncing the genocide of the Palestinian people.