The American Physical Society's Defense of Human Rights

TL;DR

This paper reviews the American Physical Society's history and activities in defending human rights, highlighting the role of its Committee on International Freedom of Scientists in monitoring and advocating for scientists' human rights.

Contribution

It provides a detailed account of APS's human rights defense actions and emphasizes the Society's ongoing commitment through its dedicated committee.

Findings

APS has a proud history of defending human rights.

The Committee on International Freedom of Scientists plays a central role.

APS's involvement extends beyond physicists to all scientists.

Abstract

The history of APS involvement in the defense of human rights, a history of which the Society can be proud, will be summarized. The summary will include illustrative specific Society human rights defense actions in illustrative specific cases. As will be emphasized, the aforesaid involvement has been primarily through the activities of the APS Committee on International Freedom of Scientists. It is noteworthy, and one of the reasons the Society can be proud, that this Committee is charged with monitoring concerns regarding human rights for scientists, not solely for physicists.