Moving human rights to the forefront of psychology: The final report of the APA Task Force on Human Rights

American Psychological Association, APA Task Force on Human Rights. (2021). Moving human rights to the forefront of psychology: The final report of the APA Task Force on Human Rights. https://www.apa.org/about/policy/report-human-rights.pdf

 

Introduction

In July 2016, the American Psychological Association (APA) Board of Directors appointed a task force to advise the organization in its work to promote and protect human rights (American Psychological Association, 2016a). This was sparked by the Independent Review (addressed in section 4 of the report) but reflected a long-standing interest in expanding APA’s work on human rights. The Task Force on Human Rights members were selected for their expertise in human rights, their engagement on issues that demonstrate a relationship between psychology and human rights, and their knowledge of APA’s programs and constituencies.

The Task Force was charged with three overarching tasks 1. To provide a definition of human rights as related to psychology that would both clarify the relationship of human rights to APA’s mission and relate it to concepts that have historically guided APA (human welfare, social and ethical responsibility, public interest and social justice); 2. To review APA’s recent and ongoing human rights activities and, in particular, to analyze recent comments and recommendations regarding human rights that had been solicited from APA boards and committees; and, 3. To provide recommendations for ensuring APA’s ongoing and visible commitment to human rights with consideration given to potentially interested internal and external constituencies who could be involved in APA’s programmatic activities going forward.