Through a multifaceted effort involving activism, advocacy, and educational initiatives, PsySR members have played an important role in opposing torture and in promoting ethical reform of the American Psychological Association’s policies in regard to psychologists’ involvement with detainee treatment in national security settings. A chronology of past PsySR efforts in this arena, under the leadership of Jill Flores and Stephen Soldz and the End Torture Action Committee, is available HERE. Current projects in this area are now being conducted within PsySR's Program on Human Rights and Psychology. For more information, please send an email to humanrights@psysr.org.
PsySR Signs Letter to President on Torture and Transparency
On November 24, 2009 PsySR joined the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and 23 other human rights groups in a letter to President Obama. The letter calls for a complete and independent investigation of all former U.S. officials allegedly complicit in incidents--or policies--of torture of detainees housed at Guantánamo Bay and elsewhere. It also exhorts the President to reconsider his administration’s refusal to disclose evidence of torture even in the face of court orders mandating disclosure. The full text of the letter is available HERE.
Recent PsySR Statements Opposing APA Ethics Policies on Interrogations
PsySR condemns the prominent participation of psychologists in planning and carrying out the systematic abuse of U.S. detainees, as detailed in previously classified Office of Legal Counsel memos, the report of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and other now-public documents. In the past several months, PsySR has issued three important statements calling for an independent commission of inquiry, including an investigation of the American Psychological Association (APA). These statements are available HERE.
PsySR Calls for Full Implementation of APA Member Referendum
In an historic vote one year ago, APA voting members decisively approved a 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.”
PsySR has called for the full implementation of that fall 2008 referendum as an enforceable section of the APA Code of Ethics. This requires a public announcement that APA policy and ethical standards oppose the service of psychologists in detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, Bagram Air Base, CIA secret prisons, or in the rendition program.
During the months prior to the referendum vote, PsySR worked to inform APA members of the importance of the referendum and the key reasons to vote for its adoption. These efforts included the creation of a brief online video entitled "I Approve This Resolution." The video, along with the text of the resolution, is available for viewing HERE.
Following the vote, APA Counsel advised that the referendum would not immediately become effective. Disputing this view, PsySR solicited and obtained a legal opinion from psychologist-attorney Bryant Welch, founder and former executive director of the APA Practice Directorate. In his legal opinion, available HERE, Dr. Welch concluded that the APA Counsel is wrong -- that the referendum went into effect immediately upon passage.
Resources from PsySR and Our Members and Related Links
PsySR and our members have produced a variety of valuable resources related to the issue of psychologists, the American Psychological Association, and torture at national security detainee sites. A partial listing, along with links to other organizations engaged in similar work, is available HERE.
Related PsySR and Member Activities
PsySR and our members have been engaged in a broad range of anti-torture actions. Many of these activities were sponsored by PsySR's former End Torture Action Committee, chaired by Jill Flores and Stephen Soldz. A partial listing of these efforts is available HERE.