ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Center for Victims of Torture™ (CVT) is pleased to announce the hiring of Léonce Byimana as director of U.S. clinical programs, beginning March 1. In this role, he will oversee multi-disciplinary rehabilitative programs in CVT’s five U.S. clinics located in Arizona, Georgia and Minnesota, as well as help the organization develop programming to support survivors in underserved areas in the United States.

For the last four years, Byimana has served as executive director of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC), an organization that extends a wide range of care, support, education and advocacy to survivors. TASSC was awarded CVT’s Eclipse Award in 2018 in recognition of its extraordinary contributions in support of torture survivors. In addition, Byimana has served for two years as a member of CVT’s board of directors.

Byimana has also held leadership roles at the Western New York Center for Survivors of Torture at the Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County, and Western New York Center for Survivors of Torture (JFS) Jewish Family Services in Buffalo, NY. He served as clinical psychologist for the Psychosocial Center of the Ministry of Health in Rwanda, where he also provided leadership and direct care to survivors of trauma and torture at the Delagua Health Group, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Partners in Health and Handicap International. 

“Léonce’s work with survivors of torture and other vulnerable populations has changed the lives of thousands. His leadership has fostered healing and care as well as innovations in advocacy and human rights initiatives that support survivors’ healing,” said Ruth Barrett, director of global operations. “I am delighted that he is bringing his expertise to CVT’s work with survivors in the United States.”

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The Center for Victims of Torture is a nonprofit organization with offices in Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Uganda, United States, and additional project sites in countries around the world. Visit www.cvt.org