The purpose of the SIG is to operationalise PSI’s affirmation of the Human Rights statement under which the PSI functions through its membership in the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations. Modelled upon the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (1948), Psychology’s particularised statement of Human Rights was adopted both by the International Union of Psychological Science (2008) as well as by the PSI through membership of the EFPA.
Our Aims & Objectives are to:
- To promote the education of psychologists in human rights awareness, accountability, and action.
- To promote the education of psychologists on human rights and legal perspectives (e.g., national and/or international legal frameworks and implementation infrastructure).
- To inform the public by sharing psychological research and knowledge in relation to human rights issues.
- To promote and encourage ethical practice, at local and global levels.
- To support professional psychologists as advocates – both at the level of the individual and their family/immediate circle, and at the broader, socio-political and cultural level.
- To bring psychological thinking and science to the discourse on human rights. To make aware the nexus of evidence-based and person-centred psychology relevant to human rights perspectives on the mental health and psycho-social wellbeing of all persons.
- To promote the use of psychology to understand and address human dignity and health equity.
- To focus, inter alia, on issues specific to particular populations: Older Persons, Persons with Disability, Persons with Intellectual Disability, Neurodiverse, Children, Persons within the Criminal Justice System (Offenders, Prisoners, Innocence Projects) and Victims, Trafficked Persons, Persons with Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Lived Experiences, Travelling Community, Persons Experiencing Homelessness, Persons Living in Poverty, Persons Living in Direct Provision, Survivors of Institutional and Clerical Abuse.
- To promote awareness /discussion of the socio-political contexts in which human rights violations occur and to encourage a critical perspective on the systemic issues which create and maintain inequality.
Contact Committee: HumanRights@psychologicalsociety.ie
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/psi-special-interest-group-human-rights-7-psychology/
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING GROUP MEMBERSHIP CHARGES:
You will be charged the full membership fee upon application. Should your membership be approved, this will cover your group membership for the rest of the calendar year. Your group membership will renew automatically during the renewal period (between 01 January and 31 March), along with your general PSI membership. Please note, should your application be declined, there are no refunds for your group application fee, as per PSI T&C's: https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/footer/Terms-and-Conditions. Thus, please ensure to read the membership criteria very carefully before making an application to join a PSI group (div or SIG).
Prices to join SIGHRP as a member
Full Membership - €10
Associate Membership - €5
Officers
Dr Michelle Cowley-Cunningham
Chair and Membership Officer
Ms Lakshmy Gunawardhana
Treasurer
Ms Paola Loiudice
International Liaison Officer
Dr Richard Lombard-Vance
Ordinary Member
Ms Simone Vorster
Ordinary Member
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Grandparenting Rule is to enable Full and Associate members of the Special
Interest Group in Coaching Psychology, who are experienced coaching psychologists and
professional coaches, to gain membership of the Division of Coaching Psychology during a
transition period.
The Grandparenting Rule acknowledges that due to the emerging and evolving nature of coaching
psychology qualifications and professional pathways, some current members may not meet all the
requirements of the new Full or Associate membership criteria of the Division of Coaching
Psychology.
This Rule seeks to recognise the prior learning, qualifications, and experience of coaching
psychologists and professional coaches who are current members of the Special Interest Group in
Coaching Psychology, ensuring inclusion of those established practitioners in the Division of
Coaching Psychology, while maintaining standards for new entrants into the profession.
WHO CAN APPLY:
This Membership Route is only open to those who are Full or Associate Members of the
Special Interest Group in Coaching Psychology as of 18th October 2025.
Thereafter all applications (lapsed or new) for Full or Associate Membership of the Division of
Coaching Psychology must meet the new Membership criteria as set out in the Rules of the
Division of Coaching Psychology.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
The below criteria are outlined in greater detail in the Grandparenting Rules.
Please read the Grandparenting Rules before completing the Application Form.
Thereafter, applicants should complete the attached Grandparenting Application Form in full and upload below.
Applicants for Full membership must hold PSI Graduate or Chartered membership.
Applicants for Full and Associate Membership must hold membership of the Division of Coaching
Psychology and meet each of the following four criteria demonstrating professional experience
and contribution to coaching psychology.
- Coaching Experience
- Qualifications and Training
- Contribution to the Field of Coaching Psychology
- Commitment to Professional Ethical Standards, Reflective Practice and Supervision
TIMEFRAME AND DEADLINE:
The Grandparenting Route will be open for a limited transition period from 20 October 2025 to 1st
March 2026.
After this period, all applicants (lapsed or new) must meet the Division of Coaching Psychology
New Membership criteria as defined in the Rules of the Division of Coaching Psychology and
adopted by membership at the AGM on 18th October 2025.
PLEASE NOTE:
There is no additional fee required to transfer via the Grandparenting Route to the Division of
Coaching Psychology.