Approved by APA Council of Representatives in August 2016.
WHEREAS APA adheres to principles supporting scientific and academic freedom, and has developed policies supporting scientific freedom, academic freedom and professional ethics within the United States and internationally (APA, 1985; APA, 1999; APA, 1980; APA, 2007; APA 2010);
WHEREAS APA supports nondiscrimination in its policies on association meetings (APA, 2007);
WHEREAS APA practices non-discrimination in its membership criteria and policies;
WHEREAS APA recognizes the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) as the representative body for psychology internationally;
WHEREAS IUPsyS is a scientific union member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and has adapted the ICSU principle of the Universality of Science as a principle and incorporated it into its statutes (IUPsyS, 2012);
WHEREAS the International Council For Science (ICSU) has clearly articulated the principles of the universality of science in its founding statutes (ICSU, 2011) and as the basis for the development of a global scientific community based on equity and non-discrimination… ensuring that science is trusted and valued by societies across the world … [and] incorporating capacity building; science education and literacy; access to data and information and the relationship between science and society.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association endorses the Principle of the Universality of Science as stated in ICSU Statute 5 (2011) as follows:
The free and responsible practice of science is fundamental to scientific advancement and human and environmental well-being. Such practice, in all its aspects, requires freedom of movement, association, expression and communication for scientists, as well as equitable access to data, information, and other resources for research. It requires responsibility at all levels to carry out and communicate scientific work with integrity, respect, fairness, trustworthiness, and transparency, recognizing its benefits and possible harms.
In advocating the free and responsible practice of science, ICSU promotes equitable opportunities for access to science and its benefits, and opposes discrimination based on such factors as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, political or other opinion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association endorses the adapted wording of ICSU Statute 5 as stated in IUPsyS Statutes, Article 3, section (ii):
(ii) The Union adheres to the ICSU principle of the Universality of Science embodying free and responsible practice of science, freedom of movement, association, expression and communication for scientists, as well as equitable opportunities for access to science and its benefits, access to data, information and research material; and actively upholds this principle, by opposing any discrimination on the basis of such factors as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, political stance, gender, sex, sexual orientation, or age.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association adheres to the principle of the Universality of Science as stated in the statutes of the International Science for Council (ICSU) and the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS). This principle embodies free and responsible practice of science, freedom of movement, association, expression and communication for scientists, as well as equitable opportunities for access to science and its benefits, access to data, information and research material. It also upholds the responsibilities of scientists to society, and the responsibilities for scientists to promote the potential benefits of their work and to protect from potential harms of their work. APA actively upholds this principle, by opposing any discrimination on the basis of such factors as ethnic origin, race, religion, citizenship, language, political stance, socio-economic status, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, ability status, or age.