Strengthening social work’s human rights mandate: a qualitative research on feminist activism, gender-based violence and the role of social work in Croatia

Abstract

This thesis investigates how cooperation between social work and feminist activism can support the realisation of social work’s human rights mandate. Drawing on literature that highlights a persistent gap between human rights theory and practice in social work, this study explores the potential of collaboration to advance women’s rights and promote social justice, using gender-based violence as a concrete intersection of activism, human rights and social work practice. The research is guided by the overarching aim of understanding what meaningful cooperation between social work and feminist movements can look like, how it can advance women’s rights, and how it can contribute to bridging the theory-practice gap in social work. Methodologically, the thesis combines a systematic literature review with qualitative research conducted in Croatia. The systematic review maps global academic discourse on the relationship between social work and feminist movements, identifying recurring critiques and tensions. Building on this foundation, the qualitative research explores local dynamics through key informant interviews with feminist activists and social workers. It provides in-depth insights into experiences of cooperation, perceived barriers, and the necessary conditions for effective cooperation. The findings suggest that trust-building, open dialogue, and mutual respect are essential to build impactful alliances to addressing gender-based violence through collective efforts and advance women’s rights. Finally, the results also indicate that cooperation between feminist movements and social work holds strong potential to support social work in fulfilling its human rights mandate.