SHZ 305 - Human Rights and Social Work

This course aims to integrate the historical, philosophical, and legal foundations of human rights with the social work perspective and to enable students to develop an understanding of rights-based social work and the skills necessary to apply this approach in practice. Human rights will be addressed not merely as a body of legal norms, but as universal values that protect human dignity, promote social justice, and regulate the relationship between individuals and society.

A distinctive feature of the course is its critical examination of “rights-based,” “charity-based,” and “obligation-based” approaches within social work practice. By exploring the differences among these three approaches, students will develop an understanding that human rights are neither privileges granted to individuals nor acts of benevolence provided by the state, but inherent rights that every person possesses by virtue of being human and that must be protected. Within this framework, the rights-based, ethical, and eclectic nature of social work will be emphasized.

The course also examines the transformative effects of industrialization, digitalization, and globalization on human life and considers the ways in which individuals may experience human rights violations at the micro (individual), mezzo (family and community), and macro (national and international) levels.

Contemporary issues of growing importance—including migration and refugee crises, justice concerns arising from climate change, post-pandemic inequalities, ageing and the protection of vulnerable groups, as well as privacy, ethics, and data security in the age of digitalization and artificial intelligence—constitute key areas of focus in the course. Through these topics, students will be encouraged to approach human rights from both theoretical and practical perspectives and to internalize a rights-based approach in social work practice.

This course covers the historical development of human rights throughout human history and the relationship between these developments and the social work profession. The concept of human rights will be examined within the framework of the ecological systems approach, and the relationship between individuals and human rights will be discussed at the micro (individual), mezzo (family and community), and macro (national and international) levels.

Particular attention will be given to “rights-based,” “charity-based,” and “obligation-based” approaches and their different implications for social work practice at the individual, family, and societal levels. Within this context, the course aims to foster a human-centered, eclectic, and rights-based perspective among social workers.

The course will examine universal fundamental human rights instruments, constitutions and legislation, as well as national and international conventions. The roles of institutions and organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the European Union (EU) in the protection and promotion of human rights will also be discussed.

In addition, in light of contemporary global developments, the course will address migration and refugee crises, justice issues arising from climate change, post-pandemic inequalities, ageing and the protection of vulnerable groups, as well as privacy, ethics, and data security in the age of digitalization and artificial intelligence. Through these topics, students will develop an understanding of human rights not merely as a theoretical body of norms, but as a dynamic field that provides a holistic framework for social work practice through an ecological systems perspective.

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·     Canatan, K. (2014). İnsan fenomeni: İnsan doğası hakkında dinî ve felsefi soruşturmalar. Açılım Kitap.

·     Carvalho, M. I., & Albuquerque, C. (2025). Human rights-based social work perspective, ethics, and practice: An exploratory literature review. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 10, 647–661. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-025-00393-9

·     Çoban Kaynak, R. (2017). Sosyal adalet, eşitlik ve sosyal hizmet. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 6(4), 252–260.

·     Gedik, M. (2020). Sosyal hizmetlerde hak temelli yaklaşım. Çekmece İZÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 8(16), 28–57.

·     Gedik, M. (2021). AHSEN sosyal hizmet modeli: İslâmî sosyal hizmet yaklaşımı. Efe Akademi Yayınları.

·     Gómez-Ciriano, E. J., Martínez-Herrero, I., & Cummins, I. (Eds.). (2026). Human rights in social work: Key themes for an emerging paradigm in education, practice and research. Policy Press. https://doi.org/10.56687/9781447374145

·     Güngör, F. (2016). İnsan hakları ve sosyal hizmet. İstanbul Üniversitesi Açık ve Uzaktan Eğitim Fakültesi.

·     Güngör, F. (2019). Hakkın elinden tutmak: İnsan haklarını yeniden düşünmek. Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.

·     Ife, J. (2017). İnsan hakları ve sosyal hizmet: Hak temelli bir uygulamaya doğru. Nika Yayınevi.

·     Ife, J. (2021). Human rights and social work: Towards rights-based practice (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

·     Teater, B. (2015). Sosyal hizmet kuram ve yöntemleri: Uygulama için bir giriş. Nika Yayınevi.

·     Thompson, N. (2016). Kuram ve uygulamada sosyal hizmeti anlamak (3. bs.; B. Yıldırım, Çev.). Dipnot Yayınları.

·     United Nations. (1994). Human rights and social work: A manual for schools of social work and the social work profession. United Nations Centre for Human Rights.

Zengin, O., & Altındağ, Ö. (2016). Bir insan hakları mesleği olarak sosyal hizmet. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, 27(1), 179–190.

·     Acar, H., Negiz, N., & Akman, E. (2013). Sosyal politika ve kamu yönetimi bileşenleriyle sosyal hizmet: Temelleri ve uygulama alanları. Maya Akademi.

·     Akkuş, P., & Başpınar Aktükün, Ö. (2014). Sosyal hizmet ve öteki: Disiplinlerarası bir yaklaşım. Bağlam Yayınları.

·     Armağan, S. (2015). İslâm hukukunda temel hak ve hürriyetler. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı Yayınları.

·     Duran, R. (2026). Social workers’ concerns about artificial intelligence: The mediating role of ethics and innovation. Journal of Social Work. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173261435140

·     Hammarberg, T. (2012). Avrupa’da insan hakları. İletişim Yayınları.

·     Kaffrell-Lindahl, A. (2025). Social work and climate change: The split between the personal and the professional. European Journal of Social Work, 32–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/2156857X.2025.2499603

·     Köse, S. (2018). İslam hukukunda hakkın kötüye kullanılması. Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslâm Araştırmaları Merkezi Yayınları.

·     Muzaffar, C. (2004). İnsan hak(sızlık)ları: İnsan haklarını yeniden düşünmek. Pınar Yayınları.

·     Şahin Taşğın, N. (2017). Yoksulluk, insan hakları ve sosyal hizmetler. Nika Yayınevi.

·     Thornicroft, G. (2014). Toplumun reddettiği: Ruhsal hastalığı olan insanlara karşı ayrımcılık. Şizofreni Dernekleri Federasyonu

“SHZ 305 / Human Rights and Social Work” will be conducted through theoretical instruction as well as practical activities, student participation, and assignments. Between Weeks 9 and 14, students will undertake individual and/or group assignments on topics determined within the scope of the course. The presentation, discussion, and evaluation of these assignments will support classes during these weeks. Assignment topics will be announced during the first-week course session, and group allocations will be determined accordingly.

As part of the “Preliminary Preparation” specified for each week, students will be expected to review the relevant literature and examine current human rights documents. These may include reports of the United Nations (UN), judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), documents published by UNHCR and UNICEF, policy and legislative documents of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM), and other relevant national and international sources. Please attend weekly classes after completing the required preparation using these materials.

Presentations, course materials, and supplementary resources used throughout the course will be made available to students through the “Materials” section of the Campus Information System (KBS).

A minimum attendance rate of 70% is required for the course. Regular and active participation in classes will be considered an integral part of the learning process. Students who fail to meet the attendance requirement will be subject to the relevant university regulations and course assessment procedures.

Rules and Reminders

Rules Regarding Course Attendance and Participation

• A minimum attendance/participation rate of 70% is required for this course.

• By the midterm period (Week 8):

• Students whose attendance rate falls below 70% will receive a 15% deduction from their overall course grade.
• Students whose attendance rate falls below 50% will be considered to have failed to meet the attendance and participation requirements and will not be eligible to receive a valid final course grade.

• By the final examination period (Week 16):

• Students whose overall attendance rate falls below 70% will not be permitted to take the final examination, and their course assignments will not be considered for assessment.
• Participation in a group assignment alone does not fulfil the course attendance requirement. Each student’s attendance and participation will be assessed individually.

• Students are expected to attend each class having reviewed the designated “Preliminary Preparation” topics. This preparation includes reviewing relevant academic literature and examining current national and international reports, documents, and other relevant sources.

Rules Regarding Assignments

• Individual and/or group assignments will be completed as part of the course. In group assignments, students may receive different grades based on the level and quality of their individual contributions.

• For the midterm assessment, individual or group assignments will be submitted digitally in Microsoft Word format.

• For the final assessment, the completed assignments will be presented in class in the form of PowerPoint presentations.

• Assignments will primarily be submitted electronically. If a printed copy is required, students will be informed separately by the course instructor.

• Assignments must comply with the academic writing, referencing, and formatting requirements specified in the İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (İZÜ) Thesis Writing Guidelines.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

• All submitted assignments will be checked using the Turnitin similarity detection system.

• Assignments with a similarity rate below 20% will be considered for assessment, provided that they also meet the other academic and formatting requirements.

• For assignments with a similarity rate above 20%, grade deductions may be applied depending on the nature and extent of the identified similarity.

• Students are expected to comply with the principles of academic integrity and to follow appropriate citation and referencing practices.

• For further information regarding plagiarism and similarity assessment, students may consult the “Plagiarism Assessment Video” provided as part of the course materials.

İntihal Değerlendirme Videosu