EFPA and its member associations strongly condemn the war started by the Russian government on the Ukrainian people. As the days pass the evidence mounts that this war causes unspeakable and intolerable human suffering.
EFPA views the war as a blatant violation of international law and human rights. It is against our core mission as enshrined in our statutes of shaping a humane society, building a European identity based on common values and goals, mutual respect and collaboration. It flies in the face of EFPA’s goals to contribute to the quality of life of people living in Europe and to a democratic and prosperous society. It contravenes the ethical principles in our meta code of respecting the fundamental rights, dignity and worth of all people; professional and scientific responsibilities to society; and maintaining the integrity that is the basis of psychology as a science and a helping profession. Peaceful collaboration on this basis is at the heart of the mission and vision of EFPA, and in turn the basis of membership of EFPA.
In the last few days, we have received many letters and statements from our member associations. This included a request from the National Psychological Association of Ukraine for the Russian Psychological Society to be excluded from EFPA. We have also received communications to EFPA from the Russian Psychological Society. As a result, an extra-ordinary Presidents’ Council Meeting was held on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
Serious questions are raised about the congruence of the continued membership of the Russian member association with the work of EFPA and that of its member associations. The EFPA member associations have voted with a majority of over 85% to support the Executive Council decision to initiate the process of expelling the Russian Psychological Society from EFPA membership. This will now proceed in accordance with an established process under our statutes to a decision of our General Assembly.
EFPA will work closely with its Member Associations in putting together support for the Ukrainian psychologist colleagues and psychologists in other countries in dealing with the psychological consequences of the war and in particular support of people who have been displaced.