Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi awarded Honorary Doctor of YSU

Kailash Satyarthi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 in recognition of his efforts in fighting child exploitation and advocating for children's right to education. As a social worker, he has initiated and implemented numerous campaigns in India and other countries, freeing more than 100,000 children from slavery, forced labor, domestic violence, and other dire situations.

YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, emphasizing the importance of the social worker's role, stated, "In developed countries, the role of social workers is invaluable, as their work focuses on addressing people's needs and ensuring social well-being. I hope that, in the near future, the role of social workers will grow even further in our society."  

Highlighting the significance of this year for the Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies at the Faculty of Sociology, the YSU rector noted, "For nearly 20 years, generations of students have been educated at the faculty, many of whom find employment in various social institutions, ministries, schools, and kindergartens—all of which need social workers."   

Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan, speaking about the crucial role of social workers for the government, stated, "None of our programs aimed at overcoming the post-war crisis would have succeeded without an institute of social workers, nor without the ongoing development and strengthening of this institute within communities and public organizations. When we look at the biographies of social workers, we find that most of them are graduates of YSU." 

The minister reminded that in 1999, the UN adopted Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, which prohibits the exploitation of children. Almost all countries, including Armenia, have ratified the convention, largely due to Kailash Satyarthi's organization of a global march across 103 countries.

Kailash Satyarthi mentioned that this is his first visit to Armenia and expressed that being awarded the title of Honorary Doctorate by YSU is a great sign of the warm welcome he has received, both from the university and from Armenia as a whole. He highlighted the centuries-old partnership between Armenia and India, which continues to this day. Speaking about the importance of the Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies at YSU, Kailash Satyarthi noted that, even before his visit, he was aware of the chair's significant contributions to the welfare of society and the advancement of the field in Armenia, particularly through its work with various communities and NGOs.    

"It is highly commendable that the chair has implemented capacity-building programs and conducted research on issues related to the development and rights of children as well as the problems faced by people with disabilities and mental health disorders. This chair has produced more than 1,000 social workers," he emphasized.

The workshop titled "Social Work: Dedication and Collaboration" also featured panel discussions. Leading professionals, experts, and YSU graduates shared insights into the achievements, challenges, and development prospects of the social work sector. The discussions addressed topics such as the vision behind the recent reforms by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the role of YSU graduates in these reforms, the achievements of the Armenian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and the involvement of YSU graduates in the AASW, as well as the development and milestones of the YSU Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies from 2004 to 2024.