The Lusófona University, Centro Universitário do Porto, promoted an open class on March 5th, with the aim of reflecting on social policies and interculturality, with an emphasis on the challenges of social intervention in Portugal. The guest speaker was Professor Hélia Bracons, Director of the Degree in Social Work at the Lusófona University of the University Center of Lisbon, who has been working on these themes, where she highlighted the importance of developing cultural sensitivity and care for others in the area of Social Work.
She stressed that it is crucial that the assistant is not limited to the basic needs of the person served, but that he or she is also dedicated to identifying broader and more complex aspects, such as the origin and individual characteristics of each person, promoting a more effective and empathetic intervention. Human rights were addressed, emphasizing that these rights are based on the promotion and integration of people in an increasingly globalized and diverse world.
Coexistence and the sharing of common projects in a diverse world are fundamental, and respect for the right to difference combined with the idea of human rights dignity is essential for the future.