American Psychological Association Position on Ethics, Interrogations and National Security

American Psychological Association Policies and Actions Related to Detainee Welfare and Professional Ethics in the Context of Interrogation and National Security

2008 PETITION

APA Members Approve Petition Resolution on Detainee Settings (September 17, 2008)

Council of Representatives Act to Make Petition Resolution Official APA Policy (February 2009)

Report of the Working Group on Implementing the Petition Resolution

Text of the 2008 petition
The petition resolution stating that psychologists may not work in settings where "persons are held outside of, or in violation of, either International Law (e.g., the UN Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions) or the US Constitution (where appropriate), unless they are working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights" was approved by a vote of the APA membership. The final vote tally was 8,792 voting in favor of the resolution; 6,157 voting against the resolution. To become policy, a petition resolution needs to be approved by a majority of those members voting.

SUMMARY OF APA POLICY

Summary of APA policy on psychologists' involvement in national security interrogations
The American Psychological Association's (APA) position on torture is clear and unequivocal: Any direct or indirect participation in any act of torture or other forms of cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment or punishment by psychologists is strictly prohibited. There are no exceptions. Such acts as waterboarding, sexual humiliation, stress positions and exploitation of phobias are clear violations of APA’s no torture/no abuse policy.

More information on APA’s policies and actions to implement Council resolutions against torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment

APPROVED APA COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS

Amendment to the Reaffirmation of the American Psychological Association Position Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Its Application to Individuals Defined in the United States Code as "Enemy Combatants" (February 22, 2008)

Reaffirmation of the American Psychological Association Position Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Its Application to Individuals Defined in the United States Code as “Enemy Combatants” (Adopted August 19, 2007)

Resolution against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Adopted August 9, 2006)

1986 Council resolution supporting the U.N. Declaration and Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

PRESS RELEASES

APA Applauds New Executive Orders Signaling a Fundamental Change in the Rights and Treatment (January 22, 2009)

APA Letter to Bush: New Policy Limits Psychologist Involvement in Interrogations (October 2, 2008)

APA statement on interrogation (August 16, 2008)

American Psychological Association calls on U.S. government to prohibit the use of unethical interrogation techniques (August 20, 2007)

American Psychological Association Reaffirms Unequivocal Position against Torture and Abuse (August 10, 2006)