Council Policy Manual: P. International Affairs

The APA Policy Manual is a collection of policy actions taken by the APA Council of Representatives. This edition includes actions taken after 1960 and up to but not including August 2001. The texts included in the Manual are the texts of the actual motions passed by Council.

• I. Children's Rights
  
• II. Free Exchange of Ideas
  
• III. Human Rights
  
• IV. Psychiatric Diagnosis and Political Dissent
  
• V. Psychologists Who are Political Refugees
  
• VI. Rights of Psychologists in Other Countries
  
• VII. Violence
  
• VIII. Zionism and Racism

I. CHILDREN'S RIGHTS

August 1989

Council voted to approve the following endorsement of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:

WHEREAS all children across the world are born with the right to human dignity and the potential to realize their full capacities;

WHEREAS the future of the world is directly linked to the well-being of today's children;

WHEREAS millions of children still live in conditions of poverty, abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

WHEREAS comprehensive individual development (including psychological development) can take place only under conditions that protect one's human rights;

WHEREAS the United Nations, working for ten years with the cooperation of individuals, organizations, and governments; and having produced a Convention of Rights of the Child, will vote on whether to pass this first international human rights treaty on behalf of children in November 1989;

WHEREAS the American Psychological Association, its Officers and its governing Council share concern for the welfare of children;

WHEREAS while recognizing that some of the language of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child could be misconstrued and thereby used to limit the freedom of reproductive choice supported by APA, APA supports the U.N. Convention's recognition of cultural diversity within the context of an overriding concern for children's welfare.

THEREFORE, the Council of Representatives endorses the principles and spirit of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the child provided that the language is not used to limit freedom of reproductive choice as supported by the APA.

2. February 2001

WHEREAS psychologists have ethical duties to promote human dignity and welfare;

WHEREAS the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides a comprehensive policy framework for the protection of the dignity of children;

WHEREAS research shows that ratification of the Convention frequently leads to governments' thoughtful review of policies affecting children and to the formation of coalitions of organizations interested in the well-being of children;

WHEREAS the Convention provides for the establishment of systems to monitor the well-being of children in diverse contexts;

WHEREAS psychologists may contribute to the development and enhancement of such systems for data collection and analysis;

WHEREAS psychologists may also contribute to the design and evolution of structures for children's participation in their communities and of programs to enhance respectful service delivery for children and their families;

WHEREAS the Convention recognizes children's right to a family environment and provides support as a matter of human right for the protection of relationships critical to children's healthy development;

WHEREAS the Convention shows due respect for cultural differences in children's lives and for gender equity in resources available to children;

WHEREAS the Convention provides a framework for humane educational, health, mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems;

WHEREAS psychologists can contribute to an understanding of the nature of, and requisites for, children's sense of dignity;

WHEREAS psychologists can also contribute to the design of systems to ensure children's survival and to promote their healthy development;

WHEREAS the American Psychological Associations (APA) has declared the development of a national strategy for the protection of children to be "a matter of the highest urgency";

WHEREAS the United States has signed the Convention but is the only country in the world with a working government that has not ratified the Convention;

WHEREAS APA in 1989 endorsed the "spirit and principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provided that the language is not used to limit freedom of reproductive choice";

WHEREAS the traveaux preparatoires (drafting history) of the Convention clarify that such a limitation is not addressed or supported by the Convention;

WHEREAS scores of other national professional, civic, and religious organizations have endorsed US ratification of the Convention;

WHEREAS optional protocols to the Convention -- on involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution, and pornography - were adopted by the LIN General Assembly in 2000;

WHEREAS the United States was one of the first countries to sign these protocols;

WHEREAS psychologists abhor the sexual exploitation of children and the targeting of children in armed conflict and recognize the trauma and degradation often experienced by children in such situations;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that APA reaffirms its support for the spirit and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and calls on the U.S. Senate to ratify it with due urgency;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that APA affirms its support for the optional protocols to the Convention and calls on the U.S. Senate to ratify them with due urgency;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, until the Senate ratifies the Convention and its protocols, states and municipalities should adopt the principles in the Convention as guides to their own policies and practices affecting children;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that APA encourages state psychological associations to advocate such action by state legislatures, city and county councils, and state and local school boards;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that APA should apply the principles in the Convention in its own work related to children;

THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED that the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology shall establish and appoint a working group to examine the implications of the principles in the Convention for psychologists' practice, research, education and advocacy.

II. FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS

1. 1985

Believing that the First Amendment requires the freest possible exchange of ideas, the APA opposes any restrictions on: 1) the import of ideas and information into the United States; 2) visits by any person to the U.S. because of that person’s beliefs or lawful political activity or association; 3) travel abroad by Americans because of their political beliefs, lawful activities or association; and 4) export of ideas or information which may be lawfully circulated in the United States.

III. HUMAN RIGHTS

1. 1986

WHEREAS, the American psychologists are bound by the Ethical Principles to “respect the dignity and worth of the individual and strive for the preservation and protection of fundamental human rights and;

WHEREAS, the existence of state-sponsored torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment has been documented in many nations around the world and;

WHEREAS, psychological knowledge and techniques may be used to design and carry out torture and;

WHEREAS, torture victims may suffer from long-term, multiple psychological and physical problems,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Psychological Association condemns torture wherever it occurs, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Psychological Association supports the U.N. Declaration and Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the U.N. Principles of Medical Ethics, as well as the joint congressional Resolution opposing torture that was signed into law by President Reagan on October 4, 1984.

2. 1987

That the discipline of psychology, and the academic and professional activities as psychologists, are relevant for securing and maintaining human rights. That it therefore be resolved that APA applauds the ongoing efforts of the United Nations to defend and promote human rights and undertakes to commend the main UN human rights instruments and documents to the attention of its boards, committees, and membership at large.

IV. PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS AND POLITICAL DISSENT

1. 1973

WHEREAS, American psychologists are bound by the Ethical 'Principles to respect the dignity and worth of the individual and strive for the preservation and protection of fundamental human rights,: and

WHEREAS, the existence of state-sponsored torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment has been documented in many nations around the world, and

WHEREAS, psychological knowledge and techniques may be used to design and carry out torture, and

WHEREAS, torture victims may suffer from long-term, multiple psychological and physical problems,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Psychological Association condemns torture wherever it occurs, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Psychological Association supports the U.N. Declaration and Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the U.N. Principles of Medical Ethics, as well as the joint Congressional Resolution opposing torture that was signed into law by President Reagan on October 4, 1984.

2. 1975

Council adopted the following resolution on the Use of Psychiatric Diagnosis and Hospitalization to Suppress Political Dissent.

"The Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association notes with appreciation that the Executive Committee of the International Union of Psychological Science, at its meeting in July of 1974, carefully considered our request that it place ‘on its own agenda and on the agenda of the next meeting of the IUPsyS Assembly a resolution condemning the use of psychiatric diagnosis and hospitalization to suppress dissent and a plan to undertake an international survey of the prevalence of this practice.'

We commend the IUPsyS Executive Committee for its statement on scientific and professional ethics and conduct, which it unanimously approved after discussion of the APA Council resolution. We fully support the "Executive Committee's decision to urge adoption and enforcement of codes of ethics by national societies, to collect and disseminate information on existing codes, and to encourage discussion of issues of scientific and professional ethics in various international forums. These plans represent a significant step in the direction of social and ethical responsibility within the international psychological community.

We must, however, express our profound disappointment in the Executive Committee's decision to sidestep the specific issue that we brought before it. We recognize the existence of cultural and political differences and can understand why an international organization may be reluctant to impose a single standard on all of its members. But there are certain minimal principles for the protection of human rights to which the entire international community is committed. We cannot accept the implication that an organization speaking for international psychology, a science and profession dedicated to the promotion of human welfare, must remain neutral toward the participation of psychologists in the suppression and violation of basic human rights. If we are to maintain the moral integrity and legitimacy of international psychology, we must be willing to take an unambiguous stand against blatant abuses of our own discipline.

The Council of the American Psychological Association, through APA's representatives to the IUPsyS Assembly, therefore reaffirms its request that the IUPsyS Executive Committee place our previous resolution on the agenda of the next meeting of the IUPsyS Assembly."

3. 1977

Council voted to accept the resolution of the International Union of Psychological Science of July 1976, concerning the use of psychiatric diagnosis in the suppression of political dissent, as meeting the spirit of the Council's resolution of 1973 and 1974, and to discharge the obligations placed upon the APA Representatives to IUPsyS in this matter.

V. PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO ARE POLITICAL REFUGEES

1. 1975

On the recommendation of the Committee on International Relations in Psychology and the Board of Directors, Council adopted the following statement, noting that it applies to all psychologists who are political refugees in this country regardless of country of emigration or agreement or disagreement with the political issues involved:

Consistent with humanitarian principles and pursuant to its long-standing philosophy of sympathetic understanding for colleagues forced to leave their countries and coming to the United States; and wishing to assist such colleagues in reestablishing their careers; be it resolved that the American Psychological Association provide such technical and administrative facilities as may be particularly appropriate in given individual circumstances.

VI. RIGHTS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES

1. 1980

On the recommendation of the Committee on International Relations in Psychology and the Board of Directors, Council adopted a detailed policy concerning support for the rights of Psychologists in other countries. [Appendix P - VI.1]

VII. VIOLENCE

1. 1987

Council voted to endorse the "Seville Statement on Violence". [Appendix P - VII.1]

VIII. ZIONISM AND RACISM

1. 1977

The Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association shares the widely expressed distress with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution which holds that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination. This political distortion of the meaning of racism is unacceptable to scientific researchers and professional practitioners in psychology. Wishing to continue to support the principles on which the United Nations was founded, and concerned about the divisive effects of the process of politicalization, the American Psychological Association joins with other professional, scholarly, and scientific bodies calling on the United Nations to reassert its ideals, return to its original goals and halt the destructive politicalization of its specialized agencies. In addition, as an indication of its vigilance and concern, the Council urges the Board of Directors through its Committee on International Relations in Psychology to continue monitoring the evolving United Nations scene and to present periodically to the Council a status report with recommendations as appropriate.

Council Policy Manual: Table of Contents | Introduction | A. Elections | B. Awards | C. Membership | D. Human Resources | E. Ethics | F. Board of Directors | G. Divisions and State and Provincial Associations | H. Organization of APA | I. Publications and Communcations | J. Convention Affairs | K. Educational Affairs | L. Professional Affairs | M. Scientific Affairs | N. Public Interest - Part 1 | N. Public Interest - Part 2 | N. Public Interest - Part 3 | N. Public Interest - Part 4 | N. Public Interest - Part 5 | O. Ethnic Minority Affairs | P. International Affairs | Q. Central Office | R. Financial Affairs