Welcome to the September 2025 issue of CVT World, CVT’s periodic compilation of the latest news, stories and public activities from our team.
Annual Restoring Hope Breakfast is Coming Soon: October 23, 2025, Minneapolis
If you’re in Minnesota, don’t miss the development team’s annual fundraising event: The Restoring Hope Breakfast. Join us as we reflect on four decades of hope and healing and look ahead to the future we can build together. Oct. 23, 8 am, Minneapolis Convention Center. Register here.
Standing in Defiance: CVT and Freedom from Fear
“Torture is meant to silence. To erase identity. To instill fear so deep that it permeates across generations. But we stand in defiance of that fear,” said Dr. Simon Adams, president & CEO, in his acceptance speech for the Freedom from Fear Award from the Roosevelt Institute. CVT was honored to receive this award among fellow recipients of the Four Freedoms Awards: Darren Walker at Ford Foundation, Teen Vogue, Rev Dr. Jacqui Lewis with Middle Collegiate Church, and World Central Kitchen. In a message especially for survivors, Simon said, “. . . tomorrow does not belong to the war criminals, torturers, or to those with authoritarian pretensions. The future belongs to you.”
. . . tomorrow does not belong to the war criminals, torturers, or to those with authoritarian pretensions. The future belongs to you.”
-Dr. Simon Adams, president & CEO
Here is the link to the video of the full event – Simon’s speech starts at 1:00:48 after an introduction by Darla Kashian, vice chair of the Roosevelt Institute board of director, and presentation of the medal from John Q. Barrett, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library trustee.
“A Lifeline at Risk: America Cannot Abandon Torture Survivors”
This new article by the Better World Campaign features quotes from Frezgi Gebrekristos, CVT Ethiopia psychotherapist/trainer, and Neal Porter, director of international services, along with a personal story from Misa, a former client in Tigray. Commenting on cuts to foreign aid funding for CVT’s work in Ethiopia, Frezgi said, “For us practitioners, it’s devastating; for the community, far worse.”
For us practitioners, it’s devastating; for the community, far worse.”
-Frezgi Gebrekristos, psychotherapist/trainer, CVT Ethiopia
Medical Outreach Camps Bring Healing to Refugees in Nairobi
The CVT Kenya team recently had the opportunity to participate in medical outreach clinics in Nairobi, as described this article about the free services for area refugees. Many people showed up, but the team noticed several important and recurring needs. “We saw a need to help mothers,” said Jeniffer Chepkemoi, physiotherapist supervisor with CVT Nairobi. “Some were sick or had pain all over. Yet they were also taking care of a child with cerebral palsy or other disabilities. The mothers did not see themselves. They only saw their children. So we let them know there is help for them, too.” Jeniffer and colleagues Mary Goretti, counselor and CVT intern, and Michael Kamau, psychotherapist/trainer, joined numerous organizations and agencies in these medical camps and found that the need was huge: more than 1,400 people showed up.
Simon Adams to Step Down as CVT President and CEO at Year-End
“All of us on the board are deeply grateful for the inspiration and talent Simon brought to CVT as well as his steady guidance over these past four years, a time period that changed the lives of so many survivors of torture around the world,” said Julia Classen, CVT board chair, in this release about Simon Adams’ upcoming departure in January 2026. Simon commented, “It is very difficult for me to leave the Center for Victims of Torture and the clients, colleagues and supporters who have been such a key part of all our success, and who have meant so much to me over these years.” The CVT Search Committee has hired Korn Ferry to recruit for the role. Applicants are asked to write to them for information about the position using this email address: [email protected], which can also be found on our Careers page.
CVT Ethiopia: Unwavering Commitment to Healing Survivors of Torture
We published this article to honor and recognize the teams in both our programs in Amhara and Tigray in Northern Ethiopia and in Gambella. Before the U.S. government abruptly pulled its funding last January, these were the largest programs at CVT, serving more than 13,000 clients and family members in 2024 alone. The loss of these healing programs was devastating to our clients and to so many esteemed colleagues who extended life-saving care to survivors. “It is hard to overstate the healing and humanitarian impact the CVT Ethiopia team had on survivors who had faced the very worst cruelty imaginable,” said Simon Adams. “Our colleagues found ways to deliver care to people under circumstances that involved challenging logistics, hardship and security risks over the course of many years.” Neal Porter said, “The legacy of CVT Ethiopia is one of exceptional skill, competence and true courage.”
It is hard to overstate the healing and humanitarian impact the CVT Ethiopia team had on survivors who had faced the very worst cruelty imaginable.”
-Simon Adams
CVT Jordan: Setting the Standard of Healing for Survivors for 17 Years
“In my heart I still love CVT. Everyone here left a mark engraved in my heart with light and love,” a former client said about the team at CVT Jordan, CVT’s longest-running international program. In the wake of the U.S. government cutting its foreign aid funding, we recognize the extraordinary work of our colleagues in Jordan, who extended care to thousands of survivors of torture every year. “CVT’s program in Jordan was recognized throughout the region for excellence and integrity,” said Neal Porter. “This strong reputation paved the way for growth and sustainability over the years, allowing more and more survivors to find healing.” Read this article as we celebrate the work of the CVT Jordan team.
CVT’s program in Jordan was recognized throughout the region for excellence and integrity.”
-Neal Porter, director of international services
New Preliminary Injunction Issued in Foreign Assistance Lawsuit is a Victory for Rule of Law
Public Citizen, the firm representing us and fellow plaintiffs in our suit against the government on the foreign aid cuts, issued this statement on a preliminary injunction granted by a federal district court in DC. The order directs the government to spend the foreign aid funds that were appropriated by Congress. The Trump administration attempted to use a “pocket rescission” to withhold the funds, but that was rejected. Lauren Bateman, our attorney on the case, said in the statement, “‘Pocket rescissions’ are illegal, and the Court’s rejection of the President’s attempt to unilaterally impound billions of dollars of foreign assistance funds is a critical victory for the rule of law.” Note that since the time of this statement there have been additional court actions; the case is presently at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Immigration Advocates Denounce U.S. Government’s Refusal to Participate in UN Review Process
In the pre-session in Geneva for the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Yumna Rizvi, senior policy analyst, joined Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Physicians for Human Rights and additional nonprofits in denouncing the U.S. government’s refusal to participate in this UN process. The UPR brings accountability to member states via a peer review of each state’s human rights record over a four and a half-year period, with recommendations for change from peers. The U.S. was scheduled to submit its report for the review in November 2025. CVT and the nonprofits will continue to work for accountability through the “People’s UPR,” with events scheduled for October in New York. Read the release from RFK Human Rights here.
Commentary: Impacts of U.S. Policy Changes on Minnesota Clients
Commentary by Neal Porter during an earlier session with Rep. Betty McCollum, along with an interview by Jill Davidson, MSW, LIC SW, social services lead, are heard in this episode of North Star Stories, talking about the impacts on clients of policy changes from the Trump administration. “Torture is an experience that really isolates people,” Jill said, commenting that some clients are afraid to leave their homes because of aggressive immigration enforcement. She said, “We have seen a huge increase in mental health symptoms, and many of the people who had shown great progress in their recovery have regressed within an extremely short period of time.” Neal and Jill begin at :58, and you can read the full transcript here.
We have seen a huge increase in mental health symptoms.”
-Jill Davidson, social services lead
CVT’s Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Tool Cited in Academic Publications
PLOS Global Public Health published this article titled, “Displacement, Personal Loss, and Psychological Strain Among Physicians and Nurses Working in Gaza, 2023–2024.” The authors used a number of tools and measures from ProQOL to measure the impacts of the violence in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, which they note has included unparalleled levels of attacks on health workers.
The Journal of Pediatric Medicine also published this report titled, “Impact of Nirsevimab Immunoprophylaxis on Professional Exhaustion During Two Epidemics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus.” The authors used ProQOL to assess compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in pediatric healthcare providers.
