International Union of Psychological Science statement against abridging the free circulation of psychologists

http://www.am.org/iupsys/boycott.html#iupsys

The International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) is concerned about recent actions that threaten the free circulation of scientists. The University and College Union, an organization of academics in Great Britain created in 2006, voted May 30, 2007 at its national conference to encourage its executive and its 116,000 members to foster discussion of calls for boycotts of academics and universities in Israel in protest at the Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

Academic and practicing psychologists in Israel are represented internationally through their Israel Psychological Association and its membership in the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS). The IUPsyS, as a member of the International Council of Science (ICSU), adheres to the Principle of the Universality of Science embodied in the Council statutes. This principle embodies freedom of movement, association, expression and communication for scientists, as well as equitable access to data, information and research materials.

Such boycotts are discriminatory, contrary to all principles of academic freedom, contravenes the International Council of Science Principle of the Universality of Science and free circulation of scientists, and misguided.

The IUPsyS has a history of actively promoting free scholarly exchange in the region as evidenced by our support of two successful open regional conferences of psychology in the Middle Eastern and North Africa (2003, 2007) at which the IUPsyS insured that these principles were respected.

J. Bruce Overmier, President, IUPsyS, June 6, 2007

See SPME Petition: An International Call To Academics and Professionals To Stand In Solidarity With Our Israeli Academic and Professional Colleagues