Center for Victims of Torture

11/25/2025

As an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of torture and trauma, CVT understands the importance of the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In fact, in 2024, 62% of our international clients were women or girls.

Please support our work so we can continue to advance the resilience, strength and mental wellness of those looking for healing from trauma.

11/22/2025

MINNESOTANS! Stand with the Somali community Sunday, Nov, 23 and show your support as the Trump administration launches attacks. Bring a dish to share or just bring yourself. All are welcome! 3 pm, Karmel Mall, 2910 Pleasant Ave, Minneapolis.

ISAIAH

11/20/2025

As shared in the Star Tribune today, this Give to the Max Day we hope you will support groups that are a "shaft of sunlight". CVT is proud to have Minnesotans by our side as we help survivors heal.

Your gift is matched today at https://www.givemn.org/organization/Centerforvictimsoftorture

11/19/2025

NEW: “ . . . at a time when we should be scaling up, we’ve been downscaling and had to shut down programs providing essential care to people. And that’s heartbreaking,” said Dr. Simon Adams, president & CEO, in a new column by John Rash in the Star Tribune. Simon adds, “But what keeps me awake at night is I fear they also cost us lives.” Click to read the article.

https://www.startribune.com/give-to-the-max-day-november-2025/601529405

Alight and the Center for Victims of Torture are among thousands of worthy recipients, John Rash writes.

11/19/2025

Tomorrow is Give to the Max Day, when Minnesotans show the world what "Minnesota Nice" really means: standing with torture survivors who've found hope and healing right here in our community.

For 40 years, the Center for Victims of Torture has been a beacon of compassion. On November 20, let's give hope, give healing, and give to the max.

Don't ya know, every gift makes a difference!

https://www.givemn.org/Centerforvictimsoftorture

11/18/2025

A special event! CVT’s Raahat project team held a lunch event with partners in St. Paul to honor its work serving the Afghan community as the project moves toward concluding activities in January 2026. Mahdi Surosh, Raahat project manager, noted that while the program is coming to a close, mental health services will continue to be available through other CVT programs, and community partners may continue to refer Afghan clients for support. CVT is proud of the great work of the CVT Raahat team!

The Raahat team shown in photo: Waheeda Atayee, Mahdi Surosh, Connor Molloy, Samantha Gardow, Noelle Stadler, Shakila Mozafari

11/18/2025

The more the Trump administration uses militaristic tactics and deportations against immigrants, the more legal, tax-paying workers leave the country. Can the U.S. afford to lose nearly $100 billion in taxes?

11/18/2025

CVT is proud to participate in this important event with our partners at ADMSP رابطة معتقلي ومفقودي سجن صيدنايا helping share the word about healing as justice.

11/18/2025

“In this era of global disruption, the new authoritarians generally wear business suits rather than military fatigues,” said Dr. Simon Adams, CVT president & CEO in this speech which aired on ABC Radio National. Simon spoke as part of the annual conference of Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

The United States has long been famous for its world leading universities. But in the face of research funding cuts, government attacks on free speech, DEI and the right to protest, and the persecution of foreign students, could all that be changing? The speech, Poison Ideas: Universities and other....

11/13/2025

The Trump administration repeatedly insists that they are deporting violent criminals from the country. Yet we can see that ICE is detaining anyone they believe to be an immigrant. Deporting immigrants will not lower crime rates.

11/12/2025

CVT Ethiopia has provided internships for psychology students at universities across the country for over a decade. Read the article by Maki Katoh, CVT Ethiopia country director, about the impacts of this important program. She writes, “With so many of its citizens having experienced grave traumatic events, Ethiopia needs trauma healers more than ever.”

Maki Katoh, country director for CVT Ethiopia, writes about the longstanding and impactful internship program CVT has run in partnership with universities across the country.

11/11/2025

There is a difference between criminal behavior and civil violations. Someone who overstays the amount of time on a visa is not committing a crime. That is a civil violation. So is parking at a meter beyond the time you paid. It doesn’t make you a criminal.