Human Rights Advocacy
APA’s vision statement includes serving as an effective champion of the application of psychology to promote human rights. In order to support that vision, APA seeks to promote attention to the critical role of human rights in the work of psychologists across the broad range of the field and identify resources for educating psychologists about human rights at all levels of professional development, with particular attention to the identification of materials appropriate for psychology graduate training programs. APA aims to ensure that the next generation of psychologists has resources that will help inform them about the role of human rights in their careers.
The policy documents listed below include only those that specifically reference human rights or international human rights law. APA has a number of other policies that are relevant to human rights. For these policies, see the Council of Representatives Policy Manual.
Human Rights (1987)
Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2010)
Psychologists and Unlawful Detention Settings with a Focus on National Security (2009)
Resolution Against Genocide (2008)
Resolution Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2006)
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention's Optional Protocols (2001)
Opposition to Torture (1986)
Support for the Rights of Psychologists in Other Countries (1980)
