Editorial Editorial Shirley Gatenio Gabel1 & Susan Mapp2 Published online: 6 December 2016 # Springer International Publishing 2016 The election of Donald J. Trump to the presidency of the USA this November left many people with questions, anx- iety, and fear about their lives, the lives of vulnerable pop- ulations, and the future in both the USA and throughout the world. In the days that followed, the USA saw protests occurring across the nation, some of which turned violent. The Southern Poverty Law Center reported a large uptick in the number of hate crimes occurring immediately after the election. Fear and suspicion on all sides of the political spectrum are pervasive. We hold no crystal ball but we offer our human rights declarations, covenants, and treaties as a reminder of who we aim to be. These international instruments were created following the horrors of the Holocaust and World War II. These instruments need to be held in reverence as the world we know is being re-conceptualized. We remind you all that the principles of participation for all, non-discrimination, transparency, accountability, and equity need to be a part of all policies and practices of our governments and we take to ensure that a light shines throughout the world. According to the International Federation of Social Workers’ Statement of Ethical Principles, “Principles of human rights and social jus- tice are fundamental to social work…Social work is based on respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people, and the rights that follow from this. Social workers should uphold and defend each person’s physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual integrity and well-being.” This holds true for every person, regardless of the vote they cast, or did not cast. It is only as time passes that we will be able to see how campaign rhetoric moves into governmental action. What we do know is that as social workers who have chosen this pro- fession as our life calling, it is incumbent on us to uphold these ethics. That we must speak up for the voice that is not heard, that we must advocate for those whose human rights are threatened. We are trained in how to advocate for human rights and it is this work we must do. * Shirley Gatenio Gabel gateniogabe@fordham.edu Susan Mapp mapps@etown.edu 1 Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023, USA 2 Elizabethtown College, One Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298, USA J. Hum. Rights Soc. Work (2016) 1:155 DOI 10.1007/s41134-016-0026-8 http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s41134-016-0026-8&domain=pdf Editorial