Human Rights-Based Approach to Applied Psychology

This article addresses the nature and framework of human rights and its relevance to health care and to applied psychology. It outlines some of the limitations of human rights, but argues that human rights provide a tool for psychologists, one which can help defend the human rights of those we work with and support, and which can help promote the application of human rights principles in psychological practice. A human rights-based approach (HRBA) is defined, particularly in relation to applied psychology and implications for adopting a HRBA in clinical practice, research, advocacy, and pedagogy are outlined. The professional stance of practitioner-activist is posited as apt for using a HRBA in applied psychology.