This text investigates how the framework of human rights can serve as a foundational principle for the practice of social work and the development of social welfare policy. The authors, Rosemary J. Link and Katherine Van Wormer, draw upon their extensive academic backgrounds to synthesize international human rights standards with domestic social work practice. They argue that shifting the focus from traditional charity-based models to a rights-based approach empowers practitioners to address systemic inequality more effectively. The book provides a comprehensive overview of how global human rights declarations inform the ethical obligations and professional responsibilities of social workers in diverse settings.

Experts in the field recognize this work as a foundational text for integrating global human rights standards into social work education. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which makes it a standard resource for undergraduate and graduate-level social policy courses.