Welcome to the August 2024 issue of CVT World, CVT’s periodic compilation of the latest news, stories and public activities from our team.

Teaching Self-Care by Example

How do CVT clinicians maintain their resilience as they work with survivors of torture and deeply traumatizing experiences? Cecil Walker, LMFT, psychotherapist with CVT Georgia, spoke to Zuri White-Gibson, communications strategist, about his work with refugee survivors. He comments on his work in private practice and at CVT, noting that “therapy here is much more relational. It’s much more like building a relationship with the clients, creating a safe space.” He speaks about the importance of self-care for clinicians doing challenging work: “You have to realize that not having a work/life balance is not just bad for you, but it’s eventually bad for your clients. You won’t be in the place to feel well enough to keep going in this work if you run yourself down.” Read the article here.

Volunteer Program Opening in Minnesota, U.S.

In the United States, Léocadia Tchouaffé, volunteer coordinator, is launching a new volunteer program in Minnesota, with plans to expand within the country. Léocadia said, “I’m delighted to re-open the volunteer program in Minnesota, where clients appreciated the support of community guides, English-language and transportation tutors for so many years. The COVID pandemic put a stop to much of this valuable volunteer activity, so it’s exciting to bring back these opportunities for connection and support.” There are openings now for volunteers to work with clients at our Twin Cities locations. If you know people who may be interested, please spread the word and reach out to Léocadia if you have questions. Check out details on the new webpage here.

The COVID pandemic put a stop to much of this valuable volunteer activity, so it’s exciting to bring back these opportunities for connection and support.”

Léocadia Tchouaffé, volunteer coordinator

A Great CVT Showing at the North American Refugee Health Conference

CVT staff participated in the North American Refugee Health Conference in Minneapolis, sharing information about their work on panels, presentations and posters. The team also worked behind the scenes in support of the international event, which had more than 1,000 attendees and featured keynote talks from U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar and award-winning author Kao Kalia Yang. Check out the list of presentations here and check out video and photos on our social media platforms!

CVT Georgia is in the News

The work of CVT Georgia was mentioned in recent news articles, including this article about a coalition of healthcare, government and many other entities working to improve mental health care. We were also mentioned in this article as an honoree for grants presented as part of Congressman Hank Johnson’s “Week of H.O.P.E.” In addition, former CVT colleague Darlene Lynch speaks about mental health and advocacy in this episode of CRTalk podcast. She comments, “Clarkston is a great example of how all these groups from different countries and cultures and faiths, can all work together, learn from each other, enjoy each other – that’s supposed to be what America is about.”

CVT Responds as Plea Agreement is Reached for Guantánamo Detainees

CVT released this statement in response to reports that a plea agreement (which was later withdrawn by the secretary of defense) was reached for three Guantánamo detainees accused of being behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “Everyone involved in the 9/11 case has been running on a hamster wheel of injustice since it was first charged 16 years ago,” writes Scott Roehm, CVT director of global policy and advocacy. He notes that many have called for plea agreements, including families of people killed on 9/11.

Scott was also quoted in National Public Radio in this piece about Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s agreement to plead guilty. Scott said these agreements are “an enormously important achievement, a critical step towards closing Guantánamo, the only path left to any measure of justice and finality for 9/11 victim family members, and the only way, more broadly, to end the sad saga of the military commissions.”

Everyone involved in the 9/11 case has been running on a hamster wheel of injustice since it was first charged 16 years ago.”

Scott Roehm, director of global policy and advocacy

In addition, Yumna Rizvi, senior policy analyst, was quoted by Common Dreams, which picked up her tweet and quoted her, “This is an incredibly welcome and long-overdue step.” Also, the New York Post published quotes Scott gave NPR earlier this year, in this article about the lack of action toward closing Guantánamo: “I think it’s largely been a lack of courage and a lack of priority.”

Scaling Up Supportive Supervision in Ethiopia for Enhanced Performance

“By investing in our supervisory practices and prioritizing supportive leadership, we are confident that we will unlock the full potential of our team members and drive sustainable growth and success in the days ahead,” writes Sandra Githaiga, clinical program director, CVT Ethiopia, in this article about recent training on supportive supervision. The clinical team attended a three-day session with the International Federation of Red Cross Reference Center for Psychosocial Support, for training and to develop a plan to scale up use of supportive supervision practices. She writes, “Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient organization that thrives on a foundation of supportive leadership and teamwork.”

The Strength of Survivors as Motivation

“By planting a seed within clients, I help grow a tree with strong roots that can provide shade to those around them,” said Ansam Abu Sabha, senior physiotherapist with CVT Jordan, in the above-titled article about her work with clients. She comments about the variety of challenges faced by clients, who are facing a new home and new community while coping with their own trauma. She spoke about the wider impacts of physiotherapy, saying, “I want to enhance their belonging, acceptance in community and independence.”

By planting a seed within clients, I help grow a tree with strong roots that can provide shade to those around them.”

Ansam Abu Sabha, senior physiotherapist, CVT Jordan

A Partner in Transitional Justice Recognizes the Importance of Mental Health & Psychosocial Support

CVT has worked in partnership for many years with the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), who mentioned us in this recent article about the importance of centering mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in their work. Virginie Ladisch with ICTJ commented, “MHPSS is not an add-on, but another layer to deepen our understanding of a context and have that understanding shape our response to that context.”

Mental Health Awareness Movie Screening of “Still Here”

The Tasveer Film Festival screened “Still Here,” CVT’s short film that highlights the journey from trauma to healing, as part of its Mental Health Awareness screenings in Seattle. Yumna Rizvi partnered with award-winning filmmaker Anya Raza to create the film and spoke as part of a Q&A panel after the screening. See more about “Still Here” on this page.

Leadership Academy Brings Opportunity

Omar Al Tabakha, program manager for New Tactics MENA, participated in this American Express Leadership Academy in London, UK, commenting that the intensive program was a transformative experience during which he heard from nearly 60 nonprofit leaders from all parts of the sector, gaining invaluable insights into their roles as leaders, their unique perspectives and strategies for effective leadership. “Their experiences and wisdom offered a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to lead successfully in today’s dynamic and complex business environment,” Omar said.

CVT Amhara Commemorates June 26 Alongside the Community

The CVT Ethiopia team in Amhara saw a huge turnout this year as they honored 26 June, the Int’l UN Day in Support of Victims of Torture, hosting two events that brought in more than a thousand people. First, they hosted a panel discussion on 24 June, discussing use of torture and its impacts among representatives from the refugee community as well as UN and partner agencies. On the 26^th, the team facilitated a day of activities including speeches, art, dance, music and poetry. Read more here.

How Advocacy Evaluation Can Support Human Rights Defenders in Latin America

How do you know your advocacy efforts are effective? How do you measure success in a meaningful way? Lisa Peterson-de la Cueva, New Tactics training officer, Christopher Kuonqui, program evaluator and MEL advisor, and Dr. Jennifer Esala, senior evaluator and researcher, examine these questions in the above-titled article, with strategies and learnings from an advocacy evaluation workshop they co-facilitated in Mexico City last year. The team offers a free and comprehensive Advocacy Evaluation Toolkit for human rights defenders, providing tools and support in Arabic, English and Spanish.

News Commentary: The Ongoing Damage Caused by Guantánamo Detention Facility

Although the Guantánamo detention facility costs taxpayers $540 million per year, many Americans no longer remember it. Yumna Rizvi spoke to Jan Willms at the St. Paul Monitor about CVT’s advocacy to close the facility and call for accountability. She warned of global risks, “We are seeing in other parts of the world through the post-9/11 period that other countries look to the U.S. and duplicate its policies. When it comes to detention and treatment based on fundamental rights, a lack of accountability perpetuates other countries to do this.”

News Commentary: New Estimates of Gaza Killings

With new estimates from Lancet medical journal suggesting more than 186,000 people have been killed in Gaza, Dr. Simon Adams, CVT president and CEO, commented in this article in Inter Press Service, saying, “since the beginning of this war, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have consistently violated the international legal principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.”

News Commentary: Palestinian Prisoners Released from West Bank Prisons

As disturbing images circulate of Palestinians released from Israeli West Bank prisons, Dr. Simon Adams spoke live on Al Jazeera Arabic, stating, “Israel is using detention, prison and torture as part of its arsenal for the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. This culture of impunity, like the war on Gaza, must end.”

Israel is using detention, prison and torture as part of its arsenal for the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. This culture of impunity, like the war on Gaza, must end.”

Dr. Simon Adams, president & CEO

Léonce Byimana Joins Amnesty USA Board of Directors

Léonce Byimana, CVT director of U.S. clinical programs, has been elected to the board of directors of Amnesty Int’l USA. In this role, he will share fiduciary responsibility with the board and participate with the executive team on strategic collaboration and advise the executive director.

Working in Coalition with Partners

Working with partners brings strength to CVT’s policy advocacy. In recent weeks, we participated in numerous actions that support survivors of torture. Below is one of these coalition and partner actions.

• As conditions in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention continue to worsen and further restrictions are enforced, CVT joined 220 partner organizations in this letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorcas, urging him to reverse policy decisions and commit to honoring the basic human rights of those detained. The authors write, “By working to expand a detention system already plagued by abuse and negligence and simultaneously imposing additional barriers that curtail the ability of people in detention to access the outside world as conditions inside continue to deteriorate, the Biden administration flagrantly breaks the promises it made four years ago to end private detention at the federal level, reduce reliance on immigration detention, and create a more humane immigration system.” The letter was covered here in Capital & Main.