Psychology Day at the UN

Psychology Day at the United Nations is a celebration of psychology in the context of the United Nations. It provides an opportunity for psychology to share with U.N. Permanent Missions, U.N. agencies, NGOs and the private sector the activities of psychologists at the U.N. and the role of psychology in addressing concerns of global importance. Psychology Day also introduces psychologists and psychology students to psychology's current and potential involvement in U.N. activities and issues.

2014

7th Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations: Psychology's Contributions to Sustainable Development: Challenges and Solutions for the Global Agenda

April 24, 2014
Planning Committee Co-Chairs
  • Lori Foster Thompson, PhD
    NGO representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP); professor of psychology, North Carolina State University.
  • Rashmi Jaipal, PhD
    NGO representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the American Psychological Association (APA); professor of psychology, Bloomfield College, N.J.
Agenda:
Opening Remarks
  • H.E. Ambassador Carlos Garcia
    President of the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly; vice-president of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); permanent representative of the Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations; vice-chair of the Committee on the Status of Women; vice-chair of the Commission for Social Development.
Keynote Speaker
  • Maya Shankar, PhD
    Senior White House Policy Advisor 
Panel
  • Social, Environmental, and Economic Sustainability Psychological Contributions for the United Nations Post-2015.
Moderators
  • Roseanne Flores, PhD, American Psychological Association (APA); and Peter Walker, PhD, International Council of Psychologists; Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI). 
Speakers
  • Saths Cooper, PhD 
    President of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) and vice-president of the International Social Science Council (ISSC). 
  • Elke Weber, PhD 
    Jerome A. Chazen Professor of International Business and Professor of Management and Psychology, and director, Center for the Research on Environmental Decisions (CRED), Columbia University, N.Y.
  • John E.S. Lawrence, PhD
    Former principal adviser and deputy director, UNDP, and adjunct professor at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, N.Y. 
  • H.E. Ambassador Kintu Nyago 
    The deputy permanent representative of the mission of Uganda to the United Nations.
Closing Remarks
  • Rashmi Jaipal, PhD
    NGO representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the American Psychological Association (APA); professor of psychology, Bloomfield College, N.J.
  • Lori Foster Thompson, PhD
    NGO representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP); professor of psychology, North Carolina State University.
2013

6th Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations: Psychology and Violence in a Global Context: Antecedents, Consequences and Prevention

April 25, 2013
Planning Committee Co-Chairs

  • Walter Reichman, International Association of Applied Psychology representative to the U.N.

  •  John C. Scott, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology representative to the U.N.

Keynote Address

  • Theresa Betancourt, associate professor of child health and human rights, Harvard School of Public Health

Session 1: Antecedents, Consequences and Prevention of Violence through the Lifespan: Children and Youth

  • Moderator: Martin Butler, International Association of Applied Psychology representative to the U.N.

  • Julia da Silva, director, APA Violence Prevention Office

  • Ava Thompson, associate professor of psychology, College of The Bahamas

  • Joost Kooijmans, special assistant to the U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children

Session 2: Antecedents, Consequences and Prevention of Violence through the Lifespan: Adults and Ageing

  • Moderator: Corann Okorodudu, professor emerita of psychology and Africana studies, Rowan University

  • Mary Crawford, professor of psychology, University of Connecticut

  • Shamita Das Dasgupta, co-founder of Manavi; adjunct professor, New York University School of Law

  • Rosemary Lane, social affairs officer, Focal Point on Ageing, U.N. Division for Social Policy and Development

Closing Remarks

  • Florence Denmark, distinguished research professor, Pace University

2012

Fifth Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations: Human Rights for Vulnerable People

April 19, 2012
Opening Remarks

  • Janet Sigal, PhD, co-chair, main representative of the APA to the UN.

  • Martin Butler, PhD, co-chair, representative of the IAAP to the UN.

Panel #1: Mental Health and Sustainable Development

  • "Mental Health as a Global Priority: Prospects for a Bright Future” (by Vijay Ganju, PhD, secretary general and CEO, World Federation of Mental Health).

  • “Overcoming Trauma and Living with HIV/AIDS: The Role of Empowerment in Sustainability” (by Priscilla Dass-Brailsford, EdD, associate professor, Georgetown University).

  • “Building Personal, Family and Community Capacities: The BasicNeeds Mental Health and Development Model” (by Richard Dougherty, PhD, president, BasicNeeds US).

Panel #2: Refugees and Psychosocial Wellbeing

  • “Protection and the Significance of Effective Psychosocial Support” (by Grainne O’Hara, LLB, BL, MA, senior policy advisor, UN High Commission for Refugees).

  • “Clinical Work with Forced Migrant Populations: Observations and Insights from the Field” (by Adeyinka Akinsulure-Smith, PhD, assistant professor, City University of New York).

  • “Helping Refugee Youth After the Trauma of War and Dislocation: The Importance of Cultural Competence, Focus on Resilience, and Community-based Service” (by Katherine Porterfield, PhD, staff psychologist at Bellevue Hospital, NYU Program for Survivors of Torture).

Panel #3: Poverty Eradication in the Lives of Women and Children

  • “From the Shadow to the Fore: ILO Convention No. 189 on Domestic Workers” (by Telma Viale, MA, special representative to the UN and director of the International Labour Organization Office for the UN in New York).

  • “Poverty Eradication in the Lives of Women and Children: The Role of Humanitarian Work Psychology” (by Stuart Carr, PhD, professor of psychology in the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Program at Massey University, New Zealand).

  • “Poverty Eradication in the Lives of Women and Children: Call for Structural Change and Pragmatic Action” (by Winifred Doherty, past chair, NGO Committee on Social Development, social worker, University College in Cork, Ireland).

2011

Fourth Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations: Reach Them, Teach Them: The Role of Psychology in Achieving Universal Access to Education

April 14, 2011
Morning Session

  • "The Role of Psychology in Achieving Universal Access to Education" (by Barbara G. Reynolds, EdD, senior advisor, education section, UNICEF).

  • "Teaching Reading & Writing at School and Children Endangered by Poverty" (by Maria Regina Maluf, PhD, president, The InterAmerican Society of Psychology; professor, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil).

  • "Education of Rural Migrants in Urban China" (by Henry M. Levin, PhD, professor, Columbia University).

  • "Education of a Child in War-Torn Liberia" (by Foday Sackor, masters in International Affairs, Columbia University; Liberian Refugee).

Afternoon Session: Challenges and Innovations

  • Introduction: Deanna Chitayat, co-chair of the 4th Annual Psychology Day at the UN; main representative of APA's team at the UN.

  • Carol Goodheart, EdD, past president of the APA.

Keynote Address

  • "Pivotal Role of Family in Their Child's Learning" (by Florence Kaslow, PhD, ABPP, family psychologist; co-chair, APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology).

Workshop #1: Innovative Ideas

  • Speakers: Erin Murphy-Graham, EdD; Sue Osterhoudt, MLS; Andrew Simon, PhD, PsyD.

Workshop #2: Innovative Technology

  • Speakers: Pamela Flattau, PhD; Janet S. Twyman, PhD, BCBA.

Workshop #3: Challenging Places and Situations

  • Speakers: Fr. Wismick Jean-Charles, MA, MSc; Michael Fleshman; Colette Daiute, PhD.

Wrap-Up Plenary

  • Deanna Chitayat, PhD, and Mary O'Neill Berry, PhD, co-chairs, 4th Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations.

2010

Third Annual United Nations Psychology Day: Negotiating for Peace and Human Rights

Feb. 4, 2010
Opening Remarks

  • Keynote speaker: Florence Denmark, main representative, International Council of Psychologists; coordinator of the United Nations Planning Day Commitee.

  • Keynote address: The Psychology of Peacekeeping.

  • Speakers: Harvey Langholtz, senior fellow, United Nations Institute for Training and Research and associate professor, College of William & Mary.

  • Chair: Pete Walker, representative International Association of Applied Psychology. 

Session 1: Negotiating Humanitarian Access – Chair: Sherry Dingman, Representative, APA

  • Speaker: Riet Kroeze, head, marketing and communication, Medair Netherlands.

  • Topic: Negotiating for Humanitarian Access.

  • Speaker: Judy Kuriansky, main representative, IAAP; psychosocial director, US Doctors for Africa.

  • Topic: Mobilizing Humanitarian Access and Aid: Examples of Models and Methods.

Session 2: Human Dimensions of Diplomacy – Chair: Rachel Ravich, Representative SPSSI

  • Keynote Speaker: Daniel Shapiro, Harvard Negotiation Project.

  • Topic: When Diplomatic Negotiations Become Undiplomatic: A Framework to Address the Emotional Dimensions of Negotiation.

  • Speakers: Johnston Barkat, UN Ombudsman, assistant secretary general, Karen Sealey, MD, special advisor, Pan American Health / World Health Organization.

  • Q&A: Moderated by Susan Nolan, representative, APA.

Closing Remarks

  • Liberato Bautista, president CoNGO and Florence Denmark, main representative, International Council of Psychologists.

2008

Second Annual United Nations Psychology Day: Psychology and Social Justice Related to the UN Global Agenda

Nov. 18, 2008
Panel Presentations

  • Keynote address: "A One-country/Two-state Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict" (by Herbert Kelman, PhD, Emeritus Richard Clarke Cabot professor of Social Ethics, Harvard University).

  • "Poverty as a Product of Human Social Relationships" (by Anthony Lemieux, PhD, assistant professor of Psychology, Purchase College, State University of New York).

  • "Reducing Implicit Racial and Ethnic Prejudices through Respect for Human Rights in Interpersonal Relationships" (by Stacey Sinclair, PhD, associate professor of Psychology & African American Studies, Princeton University).

  • "Human Behavior and Climate Change-A Social Justice Issue" (by David Uzzell, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK).

  • "The Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-Being" (by Inka Weissbecker, PhD, NGO representative of the International Union of Psychological Science to the United Nations; executive committee member of the UN Family Committee; MPH candidate, Harvard University, School of Public Health).

  • Slideshow of 2008 UN Psychology Day.

2007

First Inaugural United Nations Psychology Day:  Psychology and Disaster Response

Oct. 10, 2007

Welcome and introduction

  • Greetings from Norman Anderson (APA CEO)

Session 1: Role of Psychology and Psychologists at the United Nations

  • Deanna Chitayat (American Psychological Association)
  • Maram Hallak (Association for Women in Psychology)
  • Judy Kuriansky (International Association of Applied Psychology)
  • Richard Velayo (International Council of Psychologists)
  • Michel Sabourin (International Union of Psychological Science)
  • Isaac Tylim (International Psychoanalytic Association)
  • Elizabeth Carll (International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies)
  • Joseph DeMeyer, Susan Opotow (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues)
  • Rikki Kantrowitz (World Federation for Mental Health)

Session 2: Peace and Conflict Resolution

  • Rachel N. Mayanja (Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women)

  • Helene Gosselin (Director, UNESCO Liaison Office in New York)
  • Corann Okorodudu (APA Representative to the United Nations)

  • Morton Deutsch (Founder, International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution)

Session 3: Human Rights and the World of Work

  • "Decent Work: An Essential Part of Human Rights" (Djankou Ndjonkou, Director, International Labor Organization)
  • "The UN Global Compact: Corporate Citizenship and Human Rights in the World Economy" (Ursula Wynhoven)
  • "Psychological Realities Underlying Policies Affecting Older Workers" (Martin Greller, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, The New School for Management and Urban Affairs)