Many APA Boards, Committees, and Divisions engage in activities related to the application of psychology to promote human rights, most notably the Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest and its committees. For example:
The Office on Socioeconomic Status has used its newsletter to disseminate psychological knowledge to members of its listserv on the impact of poverty on mental health, specifically citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 23 (Right to work) and 25 (Right to an adequate standard of living).
The Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity has developed resources to support the rights of same-sex parents and practice guidelines to promote non-discrimination within psychological practice for sexual and gender minorities.
The Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs co-sponsored the Resolution on Racial/Ethnic Profiling and Other Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Law and Security Enforcement Activities.
The Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology developed a Resolution on the Americans with Disabilities Act to address bias and discrimination toward individuals with disabilities.
With respect to climate change and human rights, APA is an observer organization at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changeopens in new window—the United Nations (UN) body for assessing the science on climate change. APA also published the report of the Task Force on the Interface between Psychology and Global Climate Change, co-authored a report with Eco-America on Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidance (PDF, 3.5MB)opens in new window, and co-hosted the 2019 International Summit on Psychology and Global Health: A Leader in Climate Action in Lisbon, Portugal.
The APA Ethics Committee, with support from the APA Ethics Office, is tasked with enforcing the ethical conduct of psychologists, educating psychologists about ethical standards, protecting the public against harmful conduct by psychologists, and helping APA to achieve its objectives related to ethics.
The Committee on Human Research and the Office of Research Ethics promote the responsible conduct of research, including ensuring that the rights and welfare of human participants in research are protected.
Beginning in 1985, APA adopted eight policies to prevent torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and to safeguard detainee welfare, which included the 2005 Report of the APA Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security (since rescinded), the 2006 broad antitorture policy, the 2008 petition resolution, the 2013 reconciled policy, and the 2015 policy, which fully aligns APA policy definitions with those in the U.N. Convention Against Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and prohibits psychologists from participating in national security interrogations, among other provisions.
The Executive Office provided intensive staff support to grassroots groups of APA members in the drafting of the 2013 and 2015 policies. The office also disseminated news of the policies widely through press releases and by sending explanatory letters to President Obama and to key officials in his administration, as well as to the House and Senate Armed Services, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees. The letters requested that specific steps be taken to implement the policies and to ensure that national security detainees in U.S. custody be treated fairly and humanely, as well as accorded all of the legal rights to which they are entitled.
In November 2014, the APA Board of Directors engaged attorney David Hoffman of the law firm Sidley Austin to conduct an independent review of whether there was any factual support for the assertion that APA engaged in activity that would constitute collusion with the Bush administration to promote, support, or facilitate the use of “enhanced” interrogation techniques by the U.S. in the war on terror. The findings of the report led to ongoing actions by APA's Board of Directors, Council of Representatives, and leadership to clarify the roles of psychologists in interrogations and safeguard against acts of torture or inhumane treatment of prisoners in all settings.
APA, particularly through the Public Interest Directorate, has engaged in efforts to apply “the science and practice of psychology to the fundamental problems of human welfare and the promotion of equitable and just treatment of all segments of society,” for example through the Safe and Supportive Schools Project and the International Psychology Network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Issues.
Various Boards, Committees, and Divisions have promoted equal access to the benefits of psychology. For example, the Committee on Rural Health is driven by a belief that accessible and affordable comprehensive health care is a basic human right regardless of socioeconomic status, diversity issues, and geographic location.
Policies and resolutions regarding human rights monitoring and protection
APA has undertaken a wide range of advocacy activities through Council policy, the Central Office, and Divisions. Policy actions taken by the Council of Representatives address topics such as racism, affirmative action and equal opportunity, identity-based discrimination and violence, criminal justice, socioeconomic status, migration, and climate change.
Submission of amicus briefs
APA has submitted more than 150 amicus briefs, approximately one-third of which have been to the U.S. Supreme Court, many of which address human rights-related issues, such as the execution of those who committed offenses as children, the rights of persons with disabilities, the right to refuse medication, and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Outreach to Congress and the U.S. Administration
APA’s Advocacy Office supports human rights by advocating for relevant legislation and regulatory policies. The office has advocated for U.S. ratification of key international human rights treaties that support the rights of sexual and gender minorities, women, low-income people, older adults, immigrants, and other marginalized groups.
Informing international governments’ decision-making
APA has occasionally made direct requests of foreign governments in the case of severe rights violations with very direct links to psychology, typically in collaboration with other nongovernmental organizations or national psychological associations.
Participation at the United Nations
APA has been active at the U.N. since 2000, where it holds special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and is affiliated with the Department of Global Communications. Human rights topics addressed are wide-ranging, including the rights of older adults, women’s empowerment, social and economic challenges, climate change, and human rights as they illuminate issues facing international psychology.
