The Scope and Dimensions of Engagement with Human Rights: A Decade of Social Work Research

Background: Social work and human rights are intrinsically intertwined, as social work plays a critical role in identifying and responding to rights abuses of the vulnerable populations we serve. Human rights-focused research builds a foundation for systems-change advocacy, amplifies voices of rights-holders, and facilitates social work interventions in the U.S. and internationally which are grounded in principles of dignity, equity, and social justice. Although human rights pervade the profession, limited research explores the scope of human rights represented within our research. This study systematically reviews human rights-related social work research at its source, through abstracts accepted to the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) yearly conference.

Method: This qualitative study collected abstracts from publicly available archived SSWR national conference programs between 2006 and 2015 to examine the type of engagement with human rights in social work research. Yearly programs were searched for the term: “human rights”, and abstracts were excluded if the terms were not present. Content analysis of abstracts that fit the search criteria (n=102) enabled a structured overview of human rights concepts addressed in the data. Regular team discussions resolved code discrepancies and increased analytical rigor.

Results: Seven key categories emerged, tracking shifts in the range and focus of human rights in social work research over the decade. Notably, 62 abstracts (60.8%) primarily addressed issues regarding Child Welfare and Parental Rights, making it the most frequently discussed theme. Within this category, studies examined topics such as termination of parental rights and foster care dynamics. Disability Rights were identified in 36 abstracts (35.3%) and were frequently coupled with child welfare concerns and the examination of discriminatory practices within policy/legal frameworks. Sexual and Gender Minority Rights were explicitly discussed in 22 abstracts (21.6%), with a marked increase in attention (from 12% to 35%) during the later years (2014–2015). Immigrant and Transnational Rights appeared in 18 abstracts (17.6%), where researchers compared domestic policies with international human rights challenges. Labor and Economic Rights were addressed in 15 abstracts (14.7%), highlighting issues of child domestic work and the economic implications of labor exploitation. Health and Healthcare Access themes were present in 26 abstracts (25.5%), often in the context of studies related to vulnerable populations and access to preventative care. Lastly, Criminal Justice and Incarceration issues were evident in 10 abstracts (9.8%), typically focusing on systemic challenges affecting marginalized groups within correctional settings.

Conclusion and Implications: This research illustrates social work’s shifting and expanding approach to human rights, with early abstracts predominantly focused on domestic issues, with a strong emphasis on child welfare and parental rights (accounting for nearly 70% of abstracts in that period). In contrast, later abstracts show increased representation of sexual and gender minority and immigrant rights. These shifts suggest a broadening discourse from a primarily domestic focus toward a more comprehensive, global perspective on human rights issues. Social work research’s growing engagement with multi-dimensional human rights highlights a need for continued attention to emerging and underrepresented rights issues to develop responsive, and globally informed interventions and advocacy.