Which ethical principle promotes fairness in social work?

The principle of social justice is foundational in social work and is specifically designed to promote fairness in the treatment of individuals and communities. It emphasizes the importance of addressing social inequalities and advocating for disenfranchised populations. Social justice seeks to ensure that all individuals have equal access to resources, opportunities, and rights, which directly aligns with the concept of fairness.

In social work practice, this principle drives social workers to challenge systemic barriers and work towards equitable solutions. By upholding social justice, social workers aim to empower marginalized groups and support policies that rectify injustice, thereby facilitating a more just society.

The other principles, while important and relevant to social work, do not primarily focus on fairness. Confidentiality is about protecting clients' private information, self-determination emphasizes respecting clients' right to make their own choices, and non-maleficence is concerned with the obligation to do no harm. Each of these principles plays a critical role in ethical social work practice, but it's the principle of social justice that explicitly centers on fairness as its core focus.