For nearly two decades, Physicians for Human Rights has waged a tireless campaign to expose and end torture by the U.S. government, and to demand justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators.
In 2015, we won two important victories. Reversing a decade-long policy of permitting psychologists to aid abusive CIA and military interrogators, the American Psychological Association (APA) finally banned psychologists from taking part in interrogations or working at detention sites operating in violation of international human rights law – sites like Guantánamo Bay detention center. In response, the Pentagon withdrew psychologists from all detainee operations at Guantánamo.
The APA’s new policy was the result of years of pressure from PHR and our partners. But since 2015, the policy has come under repeated scrutiny and threat of reversal. We have continued our pressure on the APA to maintain its stand against unethical practices – and in August 2018, we were vindicated. At its annual meeting, the APA successfully upheld the ban.