The case study collection comprises 46 real-life cases of human rights violations, discrimination, and vulnerability, social inclusion, presented through didactic cards accompanied by corresponding audio versions. 

The cases have been compiled by partners on the basis of interviews and focus groups with social workers in the respective countries (Albania, Norway, Italy and Spain). They provide social work students and social work professionals with access to a curated collection of real-life cases. The cases illustrate how meeting the needs of vulnerable individuals in the everyday practice of social work is closely linked to the protection of their human rights. The case study collection is supporting students in the improvement of their competence on the role of human rights in promoting inclusion and non-discrimination.  

The case-study collection aims to strengthen students’ critical thinking and professional competences by promoting a human rights–based approach to social work. By using the materials with their students, universities support the development of key transversal skills such as empathy, lateral thinking, and reflective analysis, while improving students’ ability to recognize, prevent, and respond to discrimination and human rights violations. 

As a core element of the F.R.I.D.A.S. project, the study case collection aims to challenge the perception of social work solely as addressing individual needs and emphasizing human rights, democracy, and social justice. By framing social work interventions as responses to human rights challenges—particularly in the area of social rights—it highlights the essential role of social workers in upholding fundamental rights as in the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights and promoting inclusion.

All cases have been anonymized. 

Here you can find all the cases presented in a Booklet with index.

The cases can also be downloaded individually from F.R.I.D.A.S. site on Sharepoint, and here you will also find Audio versions of the cases, made with the support of notebookML, which is an AI tool. Click on the link to get there: Cards and Audio-versions.  

Guidelines for users 

The case study collection should be used together with the guidelines for users, as  practical  application of a case requires more than students simply reading the material. An effective pedagogical approach combines individual study, small-group work, and classroom discussion, supported by a clear structure that guides the analytical process. The guidelines provides detailed instructions for facilitators that can be applied in group-work sessions.  

In addition, the guidelines introduce the social work context in the partners countries and explain how cases may be selected from the collection.  

In F.R.I.D.A.S. site on Sharepoint, you can find the guidelines, as well as a document that provides a detailed overview of the key content of the cases (Title, topics, Sustainable Development Goals, Violated human rights and Country). For users who prefer to read the cases without visual elements, we have also made a clean word-document with only the text from the cards. Click on the link to get to the Guidelines for users, with annexes. 

Reports on the testing and evaluation of the collection 

The case collection has been tested and evaluated by all academic partners to assess its usability, educational value, and effectiveness in promoting a human right–based approach in social work education and practice. The cards were tested with a wide range of users (N178), including social workers, social work students and professors, youth workers, educators, and professionals involved in non-formal education and vocational training. 

Overall feedback was positive. Participants highlighted the cards’ strong educational potential and their usefulness as a practical learning tool across social work curricula and related educational fields. Based on the recommendations received, the partnership have revised the card layout, improved the language used, and developed detailed guidelines to support facilitators, teachers, and educators in effectively using the case collection. 

All national reports, as well as the transnational report and the final report, are downloadable from the F.R.I.D.A.S. SharePoint site.