The World Conference of Social Workers from practice, education, and social development fields took place in Panama from April 4 to 7, 2024, under the title Respecting Diversity Through Joint Social Action – SWSD 2024 – Panama – The Joint Conference on Social Work, Education, and Social Development.
The conference was jointly organized by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW), and the National Association of Social Workers of Panama. Over 1,200 participants attended in person, with around 300 joining online from more than 30 countries across all continents. More than 1,500 presentations and workshops were held.
Prominent experts in social work and social development, such as Dr. Tasse Abye, Alessandra Korap, María Inés Castillo, Marilda Iamamoto, Silvana Martínez, Tatsuru Akimoto, Amelia Márquez, Lorena Molina, Cecilia Heule, and Roberta Teresa Di Rosa, delivered plenary sessions.
Faculty members from the Study Centre for Social Work at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, participated in the conference program, delivering three presentations on working with youth and families.
During the conference, the IASSW General Assembly was held, which included a presentation on the work of the previous leadership, led by President Annamaria Campanini. The results of the election for new board members and the new IASSW president, Professor Anttoinete Lombard, were also announced.
The next IASSW conference will be held in 2026 in the Caribbean, Kenya (iassw-aiets.org), and the next European Association of Schools of Social Work (EASSW) conference will take place in Salzburg from June 23 to 26, 2025.
