Center for Victims of Torture

08/21/2025

What can I do for self-care? An important question to ask to get started is: What are you feeling psychologically? Fear, worry, nervousness, feeling numb or self-critical, and many other feelings are common responses to traumatic experiences.

08/20/2025

We are proud to see legislative progress in these states and appreciate our partners at The Refugee Advocacy Lab for all their hard work. Important victories for immigrants are being won!

📣The 2025 state legislative session has come to a close in most states.
As we start to plan for 2026 sessions in Lab states, we’re taking a moment to look back at what was accomplished – and learned – in 2025.
From Virginia to Oregon and every Lab state in between, our local partners - Center for Victims of Torture, World Relief Durham, Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies, CWS, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Vibrant Ohio - continue their tremendous work and tireless commitment to ensuring our committees remain welcoming.
Check out the full 2025 recap here👇
https://www.refugeeadvocacylab.org/resources/2025-legislative-session-review

08/20/2025

CVT’s Helping Survivors Heal (HSH) Program worked with global partners to expand survivors’ access to quality, evidence-informed care. When U.S. government funding was abruptly pulled earlier this year, the program was forced to close. Today we celebrate the work of our team and partners in strengthening the mental health field and bringing effective care to people who have survived the worst of human cruelty. “The HSH program enabled tens of thousands to get the kind of care they deserved after the trauma they had been put through,” said Emily Hutchinson, CVT vice president of global programs. Click to read more.

From the early years of CVT, leaders understood that the shockingly huge numbers of people who survived torture and required rehabilitation could not be served by a single organization.

08/18/2025

Our bodies will tell us when we’re reacting to a traumatic experience. If you have physical symptoms, be sure to take care of your body and physical health right away.

08/16/2025

NEW: Star Tribune's John Rash writes that the U.S. can again lead on human rights, quoting Dr. Simon Adams, CVT president & CEO, saying that repressive regimes make “a consistent attempt to say that you do not matter, the world does not care what happens to you, and that there will be nothing but a profound silence that surrounds your suffering." Read the new column about the revised annual State Department Country Reports on Human Rights.

"It’s never too late for this country to return to being a beacon of human rights," John Rash writes.

08/15/2025

"We were forced to abandon our clients, many of whom were in the midst of processing their most horrific experiences of torture," said Neal Porter, CVT director of int'l service, in this listening session on U.S. funding cuts hosted by Congresswoman Betty McCollum. Neal added, "Hundreds of psychological, and in many cases physical, wounds remain open and unhealed to this day."

08/15/2025

CVT celebrates the contributions of Nancy Pearson, training manager with New Tactics in Human Rights, as she retires after 25 years with us. Nancy brought a sense of purpose, integrity and hope to her work training activists on the most effective tactics to help them make real change in the world. She leaves a legacy of education for thousands of human rights defenders, along with mentorship, friendship and joy among her colleagues. Thank you for all you’ve done, Nancy!
التكتيكات الجديدة في حقوق الإنسان

08/14/2025

One of the first steps for good self-care is to reflect on how you are responding to a difficult experience. Make a note: What are you feeling in your body? What are you feeling psychologically?

08/13/2025

Which one is your go-to?

All month, we’ve been talking about how stress and trauma can show up in our lives—and more importantly—how we can respond in ways that bring us back to center.

And here’s the thing: self-care is not selfish. When we’re grounded, we can be more present for our families, for our communities, and for the work we care about—whether that’s caregiving, human rights, activism, or organizing.

So, which strategy are you choosing today to ground yourself?

08/12/2025

After a traumatic experience, you may notice physical reactions like body aches or insomnia. Pay attention – this can be our body’s way of telling us it is reacting to a serious situation. This is the time to start your self-care and be mindful of your physical health.

08/11/2025

CVT is honored to receive the 2025 Freedom From Fear Award from the Roosevelt Institute as part of their Four Freedoms Awards. We are humbled to be among this group of recipients, including Teen Vogue, World Central Kitchen, and other esteemed leaders making a difference in human rights. The awards ceremony will be in September.

📣 Happening next month: The 2025 Four Freedoms Awards will honor leaders advancing democracy, dignity, and justice.

This year’s laureates embody FDR’s bold vision of freedom—from the power of journalism to the fight against hunger.

Learn more: https://rooseveltinstitute.org/press-releases/roosevelt-institute-to-present-2025-four-freedoms-awards-in-celebration-of-democracy-and-human-dignity/