As an accredited nongovernmental organization (NGO) at the United Nations, APA is one of 3,000 groups that work on committees to advise the United Nations on international humanitarian issues such as civil rights, poverty and war.

Eight psychologists represent APA at the United Nations, where they use their expertise in human behavior to help develop and implement psychologically informed global policies that respect human rights and promote human welfare.

The team members serve on a combined two dozen committees and are led by 1980–81 APA President Florence Denmark, PhD, who chairs the U.N./NGO Committee on Aging. During a session at APA’s 2007 Annual Convention, Corann Okorodudu, EdD, co-chair of the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights, Janet A. Sigal, PhD, and Deanna Chitayat, PhD, shared the United Nations’ efforts to end worldwide violence against women and female children.

Harold Takooshian, PhD, vice chair of the NGO Human Settlements Committee, explained the connection between violence and urban life, and Neal Rubin, PhD,discussed the United Nations’ peacekeeping challenges in the 21st century.

Denmark also announced the first Psychology Day at the United Nations, to be held Oct. 10 at the United Nations’ New York City headquarters to raise awareness of how psychology can benefit the United Nations.

Attending will be psychologists from APA, the International Association of Applied Psychology, the International Council of Psychologists, the International Union of Psychological Sciences, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, the International Psychoanalytical Association and the World Federation for Mental Health. For more information, visit www.apa.org/international/un.