The SPEAR partners in Lithuania – Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) and Vilnius University (VU) – are gearing up to host a national conference on gender in social work practice, studies and research. This conference is dedicated to celebrating Global Social Work Day on March 21, 2023.
This year, the emphasis is placed on respect and the promotion of diversity through social action. The conference, initiated by the SPEAR team and VMU Social Work Department, welcomes a diverse range of social work practitioners, including social workers, municipalities, and other universities, as well as alumni working with disadvantaged groups and communities. The primary focus of this year’s conference is gender aspects in social work practice. According to one of the conference organizers prof. dr. Natalija Mažeikienė, it is crucial to examine gender when working with people with disabilities, substance abuse, homeless, and many others.
The conference offers a unique opportunity for SPEAR project partners in Lithuania, to showcase institutional practices that promote gender equality at partner universities. Equal Opportunities Coordinators Marija Norvaišaitė (VU) and Laura Lapinskė (VMU) will discuss the implementation of Gender Equality Plan (GEP) and other measures of gender equality work at the universities. Scholars and teachers from the Social Work Department at VMU and social work practitioners will present the significance of gender-related topics in the field of social work. The presentations will address such issues as the impact of gender on access to social services, mitigating gender-based violence, and gender-based inequalities. By bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders and creating partnerships, the conference is expected to become a significant step towards advancing gender equality and diversity through social work practice, studies, and research. It represents an opportunity to build bridges and drive positive change in this critical area.
Check the conference programme here (in Lithuanian only).
Registrations are open at this link.