International Council on Social Welfare

The International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) is an international nongovernmental organization focused on improving social welfare, social justice, and social development. Its work combines research, professional consultation, technical assistance, knowledge exchange, and policy advocacy. Rather than operating as a consumer-facing service brand, ICSW functions as a global network and convening institution for organizations and practitioners concerned with social policy and human welfare. ICSW traces its origins to the International Conference on Social Work, established in Paris in 1928 to strengthen cooperation among countries working to promote human welfare. Alice Masarykova, then president of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, became the conference's first president, while René Sand served as its first secretary general. Women played a notably prominent role in the preparation and early discussions of the first conference, with women making up close to two-thirds of participants according to the organization's historical account. The 1928 conference also provided an institutional and intellectual foundation for other major bodies in the social work field, including the International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Workers. ICSW, IASSW, and IFSW continue to share a connection through the publication of the journal International Social Work in cooperation with SAGE Publications. Across its history, ICSW has contributed to national and international debates on social welfare policy, social development, and social justice. Its activities include producing and disseminating knowledge, organizing consultations, supporting technical assistance, and participating in multilateral forums. The organization has engaged with the United Nations Commission for Social Development and holds consultative status with that body. It also participated in discussions associated with the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development launched in 2010, and the 2022 Global People's Summit. ICSW is governed through a General Assembly, a Supervisory and Advisory Board, and a Management Committee. The General Assembly adopts the organization's four-year global program and biennial budgetary framework and elects key officers, including the president, vice president, treasurer, and two additional members of the Management Committee. Leadership terms are generally designed to run for approximately four years. As of the 2025–2028 term, Dr. Sergei Zelenev serves as president. Dr. Sang-Mok Suh, who led the organization during 2020–2024, is identified as the past president. The executive director is Dr. Antonio López Peláez, a professor of social work and social services at Spain's National Distance Education University. ICSW's present identity is therefore that of an international policy, knowledge, and coordination network rather than a commercial product company.

The International Council on Social Welfare emerged from the International Conference on Social Work, which was founded in Paris in 1928. The conference was created to encourage cooperation among countries seeking to advance human welfare. Its founding discussions reflected substantial participation by women; women reportedly represented nearly two-thirds of those involved in preparing and attending the first gathering. Alice Masarykova, president of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, was elected the conference's first president, and René Sand became its first secretary general. The original conference had importance beyond the creation of ICSW itself. It helped establish an international institutional tradition from which the International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Workers also developed. These three organizations remain associated with the global social work profession and participate in publishing the journal International Social Work with SAGE Publications. Since its establishment, ICSW has concentrated on social welfare, technical assistance, knowledge creation, and policy cooperation at both national and international levels. Its role has generally been that of a convenor, research and policy organization, and civil-society participant rather than a direct provider of commercial products. It has contributed to international discussions on social welfare and social development through research, consultations, professional exchange, and engagement with governmental and intergovernmental processes. The organization participated in the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, an important international forum on poverty, social integration, employment, and social development. ICSW has also engaged with the United Nations Commission for Social Development, whose work includes advancing and implementing the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. ICSW has consultative status with the Commission, allowing it to contribute a civil-society perspective to relevant international deliberations. Its later work has been connected with the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development, launched in 2010, and with the 2022 Global People's Summit. These engagements reflect the organization's continuing emphasis on connecting social work, social welfare policy, social justice, and broader development debates. ICSW's governance is organized around a General Assembly, a Supervisory and Advisory Board, and a Management Committee. The General Assembly approves the four-year global program and the biennial budgetary framework. It also elects the president, vice president, treasurer, and two other Management Committee members, with leadership terms generally lasting about four years. Dr. Sang-Mok Suh served as president from 2020 to 2024, followed by Dr. Sergei Zelenev for the 2025–2028 term. Dr. Antonio López Peláez serves as executive director and is also a professor of social work and social services at Spain's National Distance Education University. The available reference material does not establish a precise founding location for the modern organization, a detailed membership count, or a separate corporate ownership structure.

• 2025

  Sergei Zelenev begins presidency

  [1]International Council on Social Welfareen.wikipedia.org

  Dr. Sergei Zelenev became president for the 2025–2028 term, succeeding Dr. Sang-Mok Suh.

• 2022

  Participation in the Global People's Summit

  [1]International Council on Social Welfareen.wikipedia.org

  The organization participated in the 2022 Global People's Summit as part of its continuing engagement with international social welfare and social development debates.

• 2010

  Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development

  [1]International Council on Social Welfareen.wikipedia.org

  ICSW was associated with the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development, reinforcing cooperation between social work and social development institutions.

• 1995

  Participation in the World Summit for Social Development

  [1]International Council on Social Welfareen.wikipedia.org

  ICSW contributed to international discussions at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen.

• 1928

  International Conference on Social Work established

  [1]International Council on Social Welfareen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor to ICSW was established in Paris to strengthen international cooperation in support of human welfare. Alice Masarykova became its first president and René Sand its first secretary general.

A global, non-governmental policy and knowledge network that connects social welfare professionals, organizations, and institutions with international debates on social justice and social development.

1. 1International Council on Social Welfareen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Council on Social Welfare official websiteicsw.org