The role of the social worker with women refugees and child refugees

Abstract

The overwhelming phenomenon of refugees, illegal immigrants and internally displaced people seems likely to continue. For this reason, no country can remain uninvolved. Since the Geneva Convention in 1951 and the Protocol in 1967, signatory states were given guidelines to deal with refugees. While presuming that there has been a great deal of good will, we cannot deny that governments had to learn how to cope with this problem, while unpredictable events unfolded in the least expected ways. Suffice it to mention the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism that have mobilized millions of people. The creation of new states have added to this ordeal. Special care and attention has been given to women and children, who constitute the majority of the refugee population, and who are often the most vulnerable. The role of the social worker in refugee situation, needs to be developed more, since her/his contribution and skills can be of great value and asset to those in need. Gradually, states have come to realize the need to collaborate and contribute together in order to be effective in their interventions. Most of all, they are trying to tackle the root cause of why people become refugees in order to find ways and means to prevent people from moving. The profile of the refugee seems to be emerging, where s/he can be seen not as a victim, but as an active and resourceful element in a host country and not as a burden. The presence of refugees has been a catalyst for most people to discover ways of tolerance and feelings of equality and appreciation towards those who are different but by no means inferior.