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Psychology and torture in the spotlight at UEL

Tuesday 6 February 2007

Psychologists gathered at the University of East London (UEL) Stratford campus last night, Monday 5 February, to discuss the involvement of psychologists in torture.

Dr Dave Harper and Dr Nimisha Patel of UEL’s School of Psychology organised the event to highlight the role of psychologists in national security and to debate the balance between professional practice and human rights.

Psychologists have regularly been called upon to put their skills and knowledge at the service of the military and security and intelligence agencies. These issues have come to the fore again in the ‘War on Terror’ and reports of psychologists advising interrogators in Guantánamo Bay and elsewhere.

Dr Harper said: “A lot of torture techniques draw on research conducted by psychologists in the past. It is important for us to not only forget our discipline’s complicity in the development of psychological torture but to try to ensure that psychologists do not aid torturers in the future.”

Dr Patel said: “It is incumbent upon psychologists to take a critical look at our ethical duties to the public. The British Psychological Society could do more to ensure that the absolute prohibition against torture is upheld and that no psychologists participate directly or indirectly in torture, whatever the circumstances.”

Dr Harper is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology on the Doctoral Degree Programme in clinical psychology, University of East London and a leading campaigner and commentator on mental health issues.

Dr Patel is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology on the Doctoral Degree Programme in clinical psychology, University of East London, and the Head of Clinical Psychology at the Medical Foundation for the care of victims of torture, London

The UEL School of Psychology offers London’s largest BSc (Hons) Psychology degree programme and is one of the UK’s leading centres for postgraduate professional psychology training.

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For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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