Note on the Selection of the ICP 2027 Conference Location

The International Council of Psychologists Board engaged in a careful and deliberative review process before selecting Cairo, Egypt, as the location for the 2027 ICP Conference. This process included sustained discussion of alternative locations, consultation with our local host institution, The American University in Cairo (AUC), and serious consideration of the ethical, logistical, safety, accessibility, and human-rights implications of convening in the region.

ICP’s mission is grounded in the promotion of human rights, dignity, justice, international understanding, and the application of psychological science to issues of global importance, and the promotion of international collaboration and exchange. Consistent with that mission, the 2027 conference theme, Human Rights, Dignity, & Justice: Psychological Science, Practice, Policy, & Equity, reflects ICP’s commitment to advancing psychological knowledge and practice in direct conversation with the urgent social, cultural, political, and human-rights challenges facing communities around the world.

We recognize that Egypt, like many countries in which international organizations gather, has a documented record of human-rights concerns, including restrictions on civil liberties and risks for LGBTQ+ individuals and communities. These realities are deeply relevant to ICP’s values and were part of the Board’s review and discussion. Choosing Egypt does not signal indifference to these concerns, nor does it represent endorsement of any law, policy, or practice that violates human rights, dignity, equity, or safety.

Rather, the Board determined that ICP’s presence in the region can serve an important purpose. As an international psychology organization committed to human rights, we believe there is value in bringing rigorous, ethically grounded psychological science, dialogue, and professional collaboration to places where conversations about dignity, justice, participation, and equity are especially urgent. We also recognize the importance of expanding ICP’s reach and partnerships across Africa and the Middle East, and of creating opportunities for scholars, practitioners, students, and community partners in these regions to participate more fully in global psychology.

In partnership with AUC, ICP will continue to prioritize participant safety, respectful engagement, and transparent communication with attendees. We are committed to developing conference guidance that acknowledges local realities, supports informed decision-making, and upholds the dignity of all participants. We will also work to ensure that the scientific program creates meaningful space for human-rights scholarship, culturally grounded psychological practice, policy dialogue, and collaboration across regions and perspectives.

The Board’s decision reflects both humility and responsibility: humility about the complexities of convening internationally, and responsibility to ensure that ICP’s commitment to human rights is not limited to settings where such work is easy. We believe that psychological science, practice, policy, and education have an important role to play in advancing dignity, justice, equity, and human rights globally, including in regions where these commitments require courage, care, and sustained engagement.