We the undersigned APA members in good standing, pursuant to article IV.5 of the APA bylaws, do
hereby petition that the following motion be submitted to APA members for their approval or disapproval,
by referendum, with all urgency:
Whereas torture is an abhorrent practice in every way contrary to the APA's stated mission of advancing
psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting human welfare.
Whereas the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Mental Health and the UN Special Rapporteur on
Torture have determined that treatment equivalent to torture has been taking place at the United States
Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. [1]
Whereas this torture took place in the context of interrogations under the direction and supervision of
Behavioral Science Consultation Teams (BSCTs) that included psychologists. [2, 3]
Whereas the Council of Europe has determined that persons held in CIA black sites are subject to
interrogation techniques that are also equivalent to torture [4], and because psychologists helped
develop abusive interrogation techniques used at these sites. [3, 5]
Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross determined in 2003 that the conditions in the US
detention facility in Guantánamo Bay are themselves tantamount to torture [6], and therefore by their
presence psychologists are playing a role in maintaining these conditions.
Be it resolved 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[7].
Footnotes
[1] United Nations Commission on Human Rights. (2006). Situation of detainees at Guantánamo Bay.
Retrieved March 4, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/16_02_06_un_guantanamo.
pdf The full title of the ‘Special Rapporteur on Mental Health’ is the ‘Special Rapporteur on the right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.
[2] Miles, S. (2007). Medical ethics and the interrogation of Guantanamo 063. The American Journal of
Bioethics, 7(4), 5. Retrieved March 4, 2008, from http://ajobonline.com/journal/j_articles.php?aid=1140
[3] Office of the Inspector General, Department of Defense: Review of DoD-Directed Investigations of
Detainee Abuse. Retrieved March 4, 2008, from http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dod/abuse.pdf
[4] Council of Europe Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (2007). Secret detentions and illegal
transfers of detainees involving Council of Europe member states: second report. Retrieved March 4,
2008, from http//assembly.coe.int//Main.asp?link=http://assembly.coe.
int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/edoc11302.htm
[5] Eban, K. (2007). Rorschach and Awe. Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 4, 2008, from http://www.vanityfair.
com/politics/features/2007/07/torture200707
[6] Lewis, N. A. (2004, November 30). Red Cross Finds Detainee Abuse in Guantánamo. Retrieved
March 4, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/30/politics/30gitmo.html?
oref=login&adxnnl=1&oref=login&adxnnlx=1101831750-
[7] It is understood that military clinical psychologists would still be available to provide treatment for
military personnel.
hereby petition that the following motion be submitted to APA members for their approval or disapproval,
by referendum, with all urgency:
Whereas torture is an abhorrent practice in every way contrary to the APA's stated mission of advancing
psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting human welfare.
Whereas the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Mental Health and the UN Special Rapporteur on
Torture have determined that treatment equivalent to torture has been taking place at the United States
Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. [1]
Whereas this torture took place in the context of interrogations under the direction and supervision of
Behavioral Science Consultation Teams (BSCTs) that included psychologists. [2, 3]
Whereas the Council of Europe has determined that persons held in CIA black sites are subject to
interrogation techniques that are also equivalent to torture [4], and because psychologists helped
develop abusive interrogation techniques used at these sites. [3, 5]
Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross determined in 2003 that the conditions in the US
detention facility in Guantánamo Bay are themselves tantamount to torture [6], and therefore by their
presence psychologists are playing a role in maintaining these conditions.
Be it resolved 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[7].
Footnotes
[1] United Nations Commission on Human Rights. (2006). Situation of detainees at Guantánamo Bay.
Retrieved March 4, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/16_02_06_un_guantanamo.
pdf The full title of the ‘Special Rapporteur on Mental Health’ is the ‘Special Rapporteur on the right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.
[2] Miles, S. (2007). Medical ethics and the interrogation of Guantanamo 063. The American Journal of
Bioethics, 7(4), 5. Retrieved March 4, 2008, from http://ajobonline.com/journal/j_articles.php?aid=1140
[3] Office of the Inspector General, Department of Defense: Review of DoD-Directed Investigations of
Detainee Abuse. Retrieved March 4, 2008, from http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dod/abuse.pdf
[4] Council of Europe Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (2007). Secret detentions and illegal
transfers of detainees involving Council of Europe member states: second report. Retrieved March 4,
2008, from http//assembly.coe.int//Main.asp?link=http://assembly.coe.
int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/edoc11302.htm
[5] Eban, K. (2007). Rorschach and Awe. Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 4, 2008, from http://www.vanityfair.
com/politics/features/2007/07/torture200707
[6] Lewis, N. A. (2004, November 30). Red Cross Finds Detainee Abuse in Guantánamo. Retrieved
March 4, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/30/politics/30gitmo.html?
oref=login&adxnnl=1&oref=login&adxnnlx=1101831750-
[7] It is understood that military clinical psychologists would still be available to provide treatment for
military personnel.
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