Dear Colleagues, Both Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR) and the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence (Div. 48, APA) maintain information and links on the topic of psychologist involvement in interrogations at detention sites for individuals defined as "enemy combatants" on their webpages, http://psysr.org/ and http://www.peacepsych.org, respectively. Note that one does not need to be a member of APA to join either organization.
You may also find of interest my article, A Sad Day for Psychologists, A Sadder Day for Human Rights at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_linda_m__070901_a_sad_day_for_psycho.htm or http://tinyurl.com/3bkpqx . As many of you know, I was one of the drafters of the 2006 APA Resolution and was involved in the development of the 2007 APA Resolution. I resigned my involvement in the development of the latter during the Convention due to my concerns over that document. In the Sad Day article, I discuss both the problems inherent in the 2007 Resolution and the reason for my resignation from the committee. I've also pasted below some information from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). They are holding a program next Monday in DC on specifically this issue entitled, "Rights and Responsibilities: Scientific Associations and International Human Rights Norms." If anyone lives or teaches in the DC area, I would love to see you and your students at the program. To Peace, Linda M. Woolf International Human Rights Day Symposium and Working Meeting Rights and Responsibilities: Scientific Associations and International Human Rights Norms Hosted by AAAS Science and Human Rights Program Monday, 10 December 2007 2:00 pm - 5:15 pm (Refreshments will be provided) AAAS Headquarters, 1200 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC (Metro Center: map) To RSVP During the past several years, in response to growing interest on the part of their members, several major scientific and professional associations have begun to increase their involvement in human rights issues. Invoking international human rights treaties and norms, they placed human rights on the agendas of their associations' annual meetings, questioning or opposing certain policies and practices within their professions. The American Medical Association (June 2005), American Psychiatric Association (May 2006), and the American Psychological Association (August 2007) all passed resolutions addressing human rights. Most recently, the American Anthropological Association has formed an Ad Hoc Commission for Anthropology's Engagement with the Security and Intelligence Communities, which includes examination of anthropologists' association with the military's efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In observance of International Human Rights Day, the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program is hosting a symposium to explore the implications of international human rights principles and standards for scientists and the conduct of science. Three scientists and a prominent member of the human rights community will help us consider why scientists and scientific societies should be concerned about international human rights norms, and the responsibilities that follow. Schedule 2:00 - 3:45 pm Symposium, Auditorium, 2nd Floor 3:45 - 4:15 pm Refreshments 4:15 - 5:15 pm Working Meeting, Revelle Conference Room, 2nd Floor Presenters George Annas, J.D., M.P.H. Member, Committee on Human Rights, National Academy of Sciences Professor & Chair, Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health; Co-founder, Global Lawyers and Physicians Boston University Boston, MA Linda M. Woolf, Ph.D. Member, American Psychological Association Professor of Psychology and International Human Rights; Coordinator - Holocaust & Genocide Studies, Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Webster University St. Louis, MO Robert Albro, Ph.D. Member, Ad Hoc Commission for Anthropology's Engagement with the Security and Intelligence Communities, American Anthropological Association Assistant Professor, International Communication, School of International Service American University Washington, DC Discussant Leonard Rubenstein, J.D. President, Physicians for Human Rights Washington, DC Working Meeting 4:15 - 5:15 pm Revelle Conference Room, 2nd Floor Following the Symposium, attendees are invited to a working meeting to discuss Where do we go from here? Together we will identify how the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program can work in partnership with other scientific and professional associations to bring human rights norms to the conduct of science in 2008. For more information, please visit http://shr.aaas.org -- Linda M. Woolf, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology and International Human Rights Past-President, Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, & Violence (Div. 48, APA) <http://www.peacepsych.org> Steering Committee, Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR) <http://www.psysr.org> Secretary, Raphael Lemkin Award Committee, Institute for the Study of Genocide <http://www.isg-iags.org/> Coordinator - Holocaust & Genocide Studies Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Webster University 470 East Lockwood St. Louis, MO 63119 Main Webpage: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's (and woman's) best friend. . . . Inside a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx ---
