News

17 March 2026

“Social work is not merely a profession; it is a calling, a cause that you pursue thanks to your dedication, professionalism, and humanity.” With these words, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva addressed social workers at the opening of the 4th Forum “Courage, Solidarity, Social Work – Together for Hope and Harmony,” held at Moscow Park Hotel on the occasion of World Social Work Day.

“I want to share with you that this day is much more than a professional holiday for me, because there is also a personal element—my mother is a retired social worker, and in my own life, I have often witnessed the pain she shared at home when she had to help people,” Delcheva noted.

She congratulated the social workers and underlined the importance of their role in protecting citizens’ rights and supporting people in vulnerable situations.

“I am convinced that what you do is not merely a profession; it is a calling, a cause that you pursue thanks to your dedication, professionalism, and humanity,” the Ombudsman added.

In her remarks, Delcheva also highlighted the need to elevate the public status of social work and improve working conditions for social workers, as well as the indispensable role of human empathy in the context of rapid technological development.

“Artificial intelligence can process information, but it cannot feel another person’s pain. It cannot show empathy, nor can it offer that kind word that is often the first step toward restoring human dignity. That is why I am convinced that no matter how much the world changes, social workers will remain indispensable. Because social work is, above all, work with human destinies. And I know that society needs you,” the Ombudsman concluded.