APA Activities at the UN

December

• APA and the International Council of Psychologists submitted a proposal for an NGO parallel event for the 57th Commission on the Status of Women. The title of the event is "Prevention of violence against women and girls across the lifespan: Psychological perspectives."

November

• In mid-November, APA's representatives and interns at the U.N. visited APA headquarters for an orientation. Meetings between the U.N. representatives and APA staff from Policy, Public Interest, Science and Practice covered policy issues, APA's voice in the NGO world and ways that the two groups can find synergy in their promotion of psychological perspectives in social issues.

October

• APA, along with other nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad, signed onto The Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. As part of the campaign, a letter was sent to President Obama, urging him to send the convention to the U.S. Senate for consideration on Universal Children's Day.

September

• In conjunction with other psychology NGOs at the United Nations, APA co-sponsored a statement on Psychological Contributions to Building Cultures of Sustainable Peace (PDF,128KB). The statement recognizes the contributions of psychology to the building and preservation of peace, conflict resolution and the reduction and elimination of violence.

August

• The APA U.N. team organized a symposium at the APA annual convention, Vulnerable Peoples Worldwide - Psychology and the U.N. Agenda: Reports from APA's NGO Representatives, chaired by Janet Sigal. The U.N. team members and interns addressed the effects of climate change on women in the developing world, responding to vulnerable people without a national identity, the impact of poverty on children's development and the empowerment of rural women and girls.

April

• APA, along with other psychology NGOs accredited at the United Nations, submitted recommendations to Rio +20: The UN Commission on Sustainable Development's second round of informal negotiations on the CSD outcome document. The recommendations focused on Psychological Contributions to the Achievement of Sustainable Development (PDF, 408KB), including psychosocial well-being and empowerment; mental health care and social protection; human rights, social equality, and social justice; and program evaluation.

• The Fifth Annual Psychology Day at the U.N. was observed April 19. This year's panel discussions centered on the wellbeing of refugees, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.

March

• APA and SPSSI submitted a statement to the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women regarding Psychological Perspectives on the Empowerment of Women and Girls as a Strategy for Eradicating Poverty (PDF, 46KB). A longer version of this statement (PDF, 250KB) was also submitted to the commission.

• Intern Joana Kyei spoke at the March meeting of the NGO Committee on the Family held at the U.N. Church Center. The theme for the meeting was "Families in Changing Educational Environments: Examples from Ghana and Kenya." Kyei gave a presentation titled "The Role of Education in the Ghanaian Family System."

• During the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, APA's U.N. team co-sponsored a parallel event titled "Transforming Communities through Psychosocial Empowerment of Poor Rural Women and Girls." The event was chaired by Deanna Chitayat, APA Representative to the U.N.

• APA's U.N. team helped coordinate an information briefing to commemorate the U.N.'s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The symposium was titled "Racism, Migration and Development: A Human Rights Perspective."

February

• In February, intern Fahad Rahman presented a paper titled "The Contributions of Psychology in Decreasing Prejudice and Conflict" at a Caucus session organized by the Psychology Coalition at the 50th U.N. Commission for Social Development (CSocD).

• During the 50th Session of the Commission for Social Development, the Psychology Coalition (which includes APA's U.N. team) issued a statement titled "Psychological Contributions on Empowerment for the Eradication of Poverty" (PDF, 232KB), offering recommendations concerning the importance of psychosocial factors in reducing poverty.

November

• In November, intern Fahad Rahman presented a paper on the topic of "Domestic Violence in Pakistan" at a monthly meeting of the NGO Committee on the Family at the U.N. The presentation was based on the research Mr. Rahad had been conducting as part of his Master's work at Teachers College, Columbia University.

September

• The APA U.N. team collaborated with other psychology NGOs on developing a Psychology Coalition for the purpose of advocating for the inclusion of psychological science at the U.N. A mission statement, bylaws and structure have been developed. Two advocacy activities are underway.

• On September 15, APA representative Susan Nolan presented at the NGO Committee on Sustanable Development (CoNGO) monthly meeting in New York. The presentation was titled Psychological Principles that Undergird Sustainability.

August

• The APA U.N. team organized a symposium at the APA annual convention, Does Educating Girls Matter? Barriers and Promise from a United Nations Perspective, chaired by Deanna Chitayat. The U.N. team members and interns addressed the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, gender-related barriers in STEM fields, violence and discrimination against girls in education, and stories of success in global education.

• APA endorsed a joint statement by the NGO Forum for Health and the NGO Committee on Mental Health regarding Mental Health and the Scope of Noncommunicable Diseases (PDF, 292KB). This statement was part of the push to include mental health on the agenda at the U.N. High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September 2011.

July

• APA Representative Neal Rubin presented at the 2011 European Congress of Psychology in Istanbul, Turkey. The title of the symposium was Integrating Human Rights and Social Justice with Diversity in Psychology Education and Training: Multiculturalism, Immigration, Trafficking, and the U.N.

June

• June 8-10 marked the 2011 U.N. High-Level Meeting on AIDS. As co-chair of the NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS, APA Associate Representative Beatrice Krauss prepared for this meeting by working closely with UNAIDS and UNCares. With the organizational assistance of former APA U.N. student interns and the current committee secretary Brian Davis, this volunteer effort helped strengthen the relationship between these U.N. agencies, the committee and the overall APA team. As a result of this meeting, the General Assembly has adopted the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: Intensifying Our Efforts to Eliminate HIV/AIDS (PDF, 87KB).

• APA endorsed WFMH's Civil Society Statement on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental and Substance Abuse Disorders (PDF, 277KB). This statement was part of the push to include mental health on the agenda at the U.N. High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September 2011.

May

• In collaboration with the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development and a number of U.N.-accredited NGOs, APA Representative Susan Nolan took part in a panel discussion and parallel event for the 19th Commission on Sustainable Development. The event was titled "Sustainability and Well-Being: Intersection of Environment and Psychology" and focused on the fundamental psychological principles that foster environmental sustainability and social change.

April

• APA endorsed the World Federation for Mental Health's "Great Push For Mental Health Initiative (PDF, 187KB)." In this advocacy campaign, WFMH partnered with the Movement for Global Mental Health to help ensure that issues related to mental health and neuropsychiatric diseases are put on the agenda at the U.N. Special Session on Non-Communicable Diseases in September 2011.

• Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations

March

• APA U.N. Representatives Neal Rubin and Janet Sigal presented at the 2011 meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association. The symposium was titled The United Nations and International Psychology.

May

• Co-sponsor on workshop submission to the 63rd Annual U.N. DPI/NGO Conference, 30 August–1 September 2010, Melbourne, Australia: Health Care Outreach to the Poor as an Experiential Context for Human Rights Education. (Sponsored by the Order of St. Augustine.)

• Panel Side Event during the meetings of the Commission on Sustainable Development, organized by APA Representatives in Collaboration with the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development and a number of U.N.-accredited NGOs. Title: Consumption and Mother Earth. Speakers included psychologist, Dr. David Krantz, Columbia University Center for Environmental Decisions. The panel explored changes in consumption behaviors from a range of perspectives — psychological, legal, theological, sociological. View the program and speakers (PDF, 306KB).

April

• APA signed on to a discussion paper, Climate Change: Summary and Recommendations to Governments 2010 (PDF, 33KB), developed by the CoNGO Committee on Sustainable Development for distribution to U.N. Missions and other entities during the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development meetings in May, 2010.

• HIV/AIDS Caucus, co-sponsored by the United Nations (U.N.) Non Governmental Committee on HIV/AIDS and the American Psychological Association (APA). This parallel event to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women-54 (CSW-54), “Beijing + 15” was attended by more than 70 individuals, representing 25 countries. Audience members made action recommendations in the areas of education, empowerment, health care, involvement of men and boys, and local/international policy. Access the HIV/AIDS Caucus report (PDF, 25KB).

March

• Commission on the Status of Women: CSW54. Ngo Committee on HIV/AIDS (Organized and facilitated the HIV/AIDS Caucus).

• APA nominated Associate Representative Bea Krauss for a speaking role at the Informal Interactive Hearings of the General Assembly with Civil Society to address the Millenium Development Goal referring to AIDS.

• Keynote Talk by APA intern Cidna Valentin at the CoNGO Committee on HIV/AIDS.

• APA Main Representative Deanne Chitayat elected chair of the Planning Committee of the Civil Society Development Forum, which will take place May 3-8.

February

• Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations.

November

• APA endorsed letter from U.N. NGO Committee on Sustainable Development: Climate Change: Summary and Recommendations to Governments (PDF, 33KB) prepared by the Committee on Sustainable Development.

September

• APA contributed language to Committee on Sustainable Development draft paper on Climate Change.

March

• APA sent comments on the draft Durban Review Conference Outcome document (PDF, 168KB) to the Council of NGOs in Consultative Status at the United Nations (CoNGO).

• Valuing the Caregiver — the Emotional and Physical Stress of Caregiving: HIV/AIDS
  Parallel event at the Commission on the Status of Women, sponsored by APA and APA/U.N. Representative Deanna Chitayat, chair.

December

• World AIDS Day: HIV and Young People Leadership for Change
  Thursday, December 4, 2008
  
  Hosted by The Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations with support from the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Status with the United Nations (CONGO) Committee on HIV/AIDS. Chair: H. E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai. Speakers included Ms. Kalindy Bolivar (Latin American Network for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (RedLAC), Ecuador; Mr. Ramy Nasr, Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Youth Peer Education Network, Egypt: Ms. Raissa Kaneza, World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts, National Youth Council, Burundi; Ms. Cheryl B. Mwaria, PhD, Professor of Anthropology, Hofstra University, NY.

November

• Child advocates from the American Psychological Association (APA), the Child Welfare League of America and American Academy of Pediatrics briefed Congress on the Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Harold Cook, PhD, APA's U.N. Representative, talked about the CRC's relevance to children's health issues in the United States.

• Second Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations.

October

• International Day of Older Persons
  October 2, 2008 
  APA-NGO Representative, Janet Sigal, co-chaired the day; and Associate Representative, Norma Simon, served as one of two associate chairs. Florence Denmark presented opening remarks to the audience.

September

• The U.N. Secretary-General and the President of the U.N. General Assembly convened an event on the Millennium Development Goals at the U.N. Headquarters in New York on September 28, 2008.

• 61st Annual Conference for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) was held in Paris at UNESCO Headquarters. The conference was titled “Reaffirming Human Rights for All: The Universal Declaration at 60” and organized in partnership with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee, UNESCO, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of France. Sponsored by the International Association of Schools of Social Work with the U.N. NGO Committee on Mental Health and the American Psychological Association; Caraes Brothers of Charity, Rome and Belgium; International Association of Applied Psychology; International Council of Women; International Federation of Social Workers; International Federation on Ageing; International Psychoanalytic Association; Soroptimist International; World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation; World Council of Psychotherapy; World Federation for Mental Health; and Zonta International.
  
  Presenters included: Professor René Stockman, PhD: President, Caraes Brothers of Charity, Rome and Belgium; Janel Gauthier, PhD: Professor, Universite Laval, Ecole de Psychologie, Quebec Canada; Tara Pir: CEO & Executive Director, Multicultural Counseling & Educational Services, Los Angeles, California USA; Waseem Alladin; Editor in Chief, Counselling Psychology Quarterly: Jennifer Kloes; Executive Director, Global Youth Connect; and Judy Kuriansky, PhD: U.N. Representative, International Association of Applied Psychology, and World Council for Psychotherapy.

June

• Meeting of the U.N. NGO Committee on Human Settlements, organized by APA Representative Harold Takooshian. Speaker: Henry J. Stern, described his work with New York Civic and insights into complex urban politics.

May

• APA Representative nominated to attend the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Forum in Geneva, Switzerland. CSTD analyses relevant issues and provides appropriate recommendations and policy options to the General Assembly. It is a United Nations forum for examining science and technology questions and their implications for development; advancing understanding on science and technology policies — particularly with respect to developing countries and; formulating U.N. system recommendations and guidelines on science and technology.

April

• Media and its Impact on Children and Family
  Panelists: John Broughton, Professor, Department of Arts and Humanities, Teachers College, Columbia University; Erica Kochi, Senior Communications Officer, Head of the Innovation Unit in UNICEF’s Division of Communications. MODERATOR: APA Representative, Harold Cook, Co-Chair of the NGO Committee on the Family — NY, The International Union of Psychological Science and the American Psychological Association.

March

• Eliminate Racism: Prevent Mass Atrocities (as part of the Human Rights Dialogue Series in Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
  Organized by APA Representative Corann Okorodudu. Panel Presenters: Rodney Leon, President and co-Founder of Aariris Architects, Designer, African Burial Ground National Monument, NY; Yvette Rugasaguhunga, Survivor of the Rwandan Genocide; Payam Akhavan, Professor of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Mark Weitzman, Simon Weisenthal Center, NY, Ervin Staub, Professor of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst and the American Psychological Association; Ben Majekodunmi, Human Rights Officer, Office of the U.N. Special Representative on the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities.

• With all the important issues that face NGOs working with the United Nations today, how can NGO committees and individuals best share their work with others through publication? In this free workshop for NGO reps, a panel of expert editors described why and how to go beyond “speaking” to publish articles, chapters, or books on our international work.  These include Paul Dukes and Anne Duffy (of Taylor & Francis), Uwe P. Gielen (President, APA Division of International Psychology), APA Representative Harold Takooshian (International Psychology Bulletin) and Parviz Morewedge.

January

• APA was elected to the Executive Board of the Council of NGOs in Consultative Relations at the United Nations (CONGO) at the annual CONGO meeting in early December at U.N. headquarters in Geneva. The CONGO Executive Committee represents all NGOs who have consultative status at the U.N. It promotes the active role of NGOs in policy formation, program development, program monitoring and review.

December

• Families and HIV/AIDS: An Interactive Dialogue
  Sponsored by the NGO Committee on the Family and the NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS. Moderated by Deanna Chitayat,PhD, NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS and the American Psychological Association; Harold Cook, PhD, co-chair NGO Committee on the Family – NY, the American Psychological Association and the International Union of Psychological Science. SPEAKER: Beatrice Krauss, PhD, Hunter College, City University of New York.

• Placing Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-Being for Children on the U.N. Agenda (at the Meeting, Commemorating the World Fit for Children +5)
  A panel organized by the Non-Governmental Organization's Committee on Mental Health (NGO CMH) Working Group on Children and Mental Health. SPEAKERS: Corann Okorodudu (APA representative to the U.N.), Rowan University, “The Convention on the Rights of the Child as a Framework for Integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-Being into Creating A World Fit For Children”; AmandaMelville, Child Protection Programme Officer, UNICEF, "Interagency Standing Committee Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings" and their Implications for Children”; ChristinaBlanc, Barnard College, "Violence against Children and the World Fit for Children".

• Panel discussion:"Creating Preventive Measures to Eradicate Violence Against Women and Girls at the Individual, Community and State Levels"
  Mike Wessells, Senior Child Protection Advisor, Christian Children’s Fund and Michael L. Penn, Clinical Psychologist & Associate Professor of Psychology, Franklin & Marshall College were among the speakers in a panel discussion sponsored by the U.N. missions of the Netherlands and France and organized by the Bahá’í International Community and the Christian Children’s Fund.

November

• Emerging Themes from NGOs on the World Fit for Children (+5) Commemoration
  Based on the Report of the Secretary General follow-up to the special session of the General Assembly on Children. APA prepared comments on the draft statement on behalf of the NGO Committee on UNICEF. 

• AIDS: Eliminating Stigma and Discrimination
  A briefing in observance of World AIDS Day (December 1st) co-sponsored by the U.N. Department of Public Information, Non-Governmental Organizations (DPI-NGO), UNAIDS and the NGO Committee on HIV and AIDS. SPEAKERS: Ms. Anatasia Kamlyk, Representative, U.N. Plus; Dr. JessieMbwambo, Muhimbili Medical School and National Hospital, Tanzania; Dr. Beatrice Krauss, Hunter College Schools of the Health Professions and its Center for Community and Urban Health. View the full PowerPoint Presentation (PDF, 752KB) by psychologist Dr. Beatrice Krauss.

October

• First Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations
  Organized by a multiorganization committee and chaired by Florence Denmark, Main APA Representative at the U.N. and Chair UN/NGO Committee on Ageing.

• The Psychological Impacts of Natural Disasters
  A briefing addressing critical issues such as psychological support systems, relief coordination efforts, and the needed contribution of NGOs. Dr. Gerard A. Jacobs, Director, Disaster Mental Health Institute, Ms. Anne Cubile, Policy & Guidance Management, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Mr. Charles P. Bernimolin, Officer, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and Mr. NassimAgazade, Critical Incident Stress Management Unit, Department of Safety of Security, United Nations provided the audience with a balanced and informative understanding of the subject. View a summary of the briefing and the webcast. View a summary of the PowerPoint presentation (PDF, 298KB) by Dr. Jacobs.

September

• APA Report of the NGO Representatives at the United Nations
  Written by Florence L. Denmark, Main APA Representative at the U.N. Describes the specific activities and leadership positions of the APA representatives and the activities of the various U.N. NGO committees and the role of APA NGO representatives, listed by committee or activity. Also included is a report about the weekly DPI Briefings and plans for Psychology Day at the United Nations. Read the full report (PDF, 166KB).

• Family Issues at the United Nations: Work Ahead
  Organized by Harold Cook, Co-Chair, NGO Committee on the Family (New York). SPEAKER: Mr. Eric Olson, Focal Point on the Family, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

March

• 51st Session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women -- Gender-Based Violence: Consequences Across the Life Span
  Sponsored by the Subcommittee on Violence Against Women of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women NY. SPEAKERS: Leslie Wright, Chair, Violence Against Women Subcommittee; Charlotte Bunch, Expert Panel for Secretary General's report; Dr. Gilda Glasinovich, Peru, U.N. Technical Advisor on Gender and Immigrant Populations; Florence Denmark, PhD, Pace University, Main Representative American Psychological Association.

• Non-violence Resolution of Conflict Within the Family: Special Focus on the Girl Child
  Sponsored by the NGO Committee on the Family, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Unanima International. MODERATOR: Harold Cook, Co-Chair the NGO Committee on the Family – NY,  American Psychological Association , and the International Union of Psychological Science. PRESENTERS: Anna Maria Vilca Mamani, from Peru; Maria Soledad Cortez de Santiago, from Peru; Vanesa de los Milagros, Youth from Peru; Julia da Silva, Director, Violence Prevention Program, American Psychological Association.

February

• 51st Session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women -- AIDS-Related Violence and Discrimination Against Women and Girls
  Sponsored by the American Psychological Association (APA), Society for Women and AIDS in Africa SWAA, NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS, International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), Sub-Committee for the Elimination of Racism, NGO Committee on Children’s Rights. SPEAKERS: Mark Winiarski, PhD, HIV/AIDS Advisor to American Psychological Association U.N. Representatives, New York, NY; Sandra Lewis, PsyD, Professor of Psychology and Director of African-American Studies, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey; Bernice Heloo, M.Ed, President, Society for Women and AIDS in Africa, Accra, Ghana; Agnes Cyril Msoka, MSc, International Coordinator, Society for Women and AIDS in Africa, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Umra Omar, BA, International Coordinator, American Psychological Association Office on AIDS, Nairobi, Kenya.

• In Preparation for the 51st Session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women--Roundtable on Discrimination Against the Girl Child
  SPEAKERS: Her ExcellencyJoyce Kafanabo, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tanzania; Dr. Rita Chi Ying Chung, Prof. of Psychology and Counseling, George Mason University; Ted Bunch, Director of Safe Horizons Domestic Violence Program.

November

• World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse
  Dissemination events — Public Interest Directorate, including briefing sheet.