| Abstract: | The American Psychological Association Council in February 1987 passed a resolution declaring that "the discipline of psychology, and the academic and professional activities of psychologists, are relevant for securing and maintaining human rights" and resolving that "the APA applauds the ongoing efforts of the United Nations to defend and protect human rights and undertakes to recommend the main UN human rights instruments and documents to the attention of its boards, committees, and membership at large." To help to implement this resolution, the present article first provides information about the development of human rights concepts and instruments; treaties and declarations concerning torture are used as examples, and the impact of these international agreements is shown in a recent history-making U.S. legal decision. Second, the article reviews APA human rights policies and actions and offers some conclusions about them. Third, it calls attention to a number of specific international statements of human rights that are relevant to psychology. Fourth, the article suggests some further steps that APA could take to implement its resolution. Finally, it provides references to sources that include the texts of the United Nations' human rights instruments and information about them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
