Sign Petition to OASW to issue Ethical Practice Guidelines on Social Action

Request for the Development of Practice Guidelines on Social Action within the Scope of Social Work Ethics and Law

Background and Context

Dr. Naomi Farber, Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina’s College of Social Work, has observed:

“Jewish identity is increasingly marginalized in social work. . . We’re watching our field drift into ideological echo chambers that reward outrage and erase Jewish voices.”

A group of Jewish social workers and allies have come together to address the troubling rise of antisemitism within our profession. While this remains a critical issue, we write today to draw attention to a related and urgent concern: the absence of clear, enforceable guidance on how social workers engage in social action.

The Problem

Advocacy and social justice are central to the identity of our profession. However, in the current polarized climate, some social workers — including students, educators, and practitioners — are engaging in activism in ways that may breach the Code of Ethics or, in some cases, contravene Canadian law.

We have observed instances of:

• Inflammatory or defamatory language

• Harassment, name-calling, and public shaming on listservs, social media, and professional forums

• Public calls to boycott or ostracize colleagues over ideological disagreements

• Endorsement of or participation in illegal protests

• Justification of violence or terrorism

• Intimidation of individuals who hold differing perspectives

• Promotion of hate, including speech targeting minority groups

Such behaviors run contrary to ethical standards that require social workers to:

“Conduct themselves professionally, behaving at all times with civility, respect and fairness toward others, while respecting diversity of opinion and differences in perspective.”

(Ontario Social Work Code of Ethics, Section 2.2.13)

When social workers fail to uphold these standards, especially in public or online spaces, it not only tarnishes the reputation of the profession but can also cause direct harm to the very communities we are entrusted to serve and protect. Yet, regulatory bodies currently offer little formal guidance on how to engage in advocacy ethically, responsibly, and legally.

The Request

We respectfully urge the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers to develop and issue Practice Guidelines for Social Action, establishing clear expectations for professional conduct during activism and public advocacy.

Proposed Areas of Guidance

We recommend that the following areas be addressed:

1. Professional Communication

   
   

   • Avoidance of defamatory language, personal attacks, or libelous statements in any forum, including digital and social media.

   • Constructive, respectful expression of concerns or critiques, consistent with the values of the profession.

     
     

2. Respect for Political and Ideological Diversity

   
   

   • A commitment to upholding diversity of opinion and refraining from vilifying individuals based on political or ideological affiliation.

   • Encouragement of respectful, professional dialogue, even in disagreement.

     
     
     
     

3. Appropriate Protest Participation

   
   

   • Engagement in peaceful, lawful, and civil protest.

   • Prohibition against the justification of violence or support for organizations designated as terrorist entities under Canadian law.

   • Clear boundaries regarding threatening behavior, obscenities, or intimidation during demonstrations.

     
     

4. Legal Compliance

   
   

   • Adherence to all relevant laws during public demonstrations and activism.

   • Explicit prohibition of unlawful actions such as blocking access to essential services, violating buffer zones, or property defacement.

     
     

5. Avoidance of Hate Speech and Stereotyping

   
   

   • Rejection of language, imagery, or rhetoric that incites hatred or perpetuates stereotypes.

   • Vigilance against tropes targeting any minority group, including Jews, Muslims, or others.

     
     

6. Modeling Ethical Advocacy

   
   

   • Demonstration of advocacy that reflects the profession’s values: dignity, respect, accountability, and cultural humility.

   • A commitment to advocacy that informs rather than inflames, promotes justice rather than hostility.

Conclusion

In these polarized times, the social work profession must lead by example. Clear and enforceable guidelines on social action will empower social workers to advocate effectively while upholding the ethical standards that define our profession. These guidelines will protect the public, support practitioners, and preserve the integrity of our shared work.

We respectfully urge the College to act on this pressing need.

Sincerely,