Frequently Asked Questions

Q.  What is torture?
Torture is the intentional infliction of physical or psychological pain and suffering by or at the behest or acquiescence of any member or official of the state in power. This abhorrent practice represents a deliberate and systematic dismantling of a person’s identity and humanity through physical or psychological pain and suffering. The most common forms of torture reported by CVT clients are beatings and psychological torture. It is estimated there are over 50,000 torture survivors in Minnesota and as many as 1.3 million in the U.S. The United Nations definition of torture is contained in the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Q.  What are the effects of torture?
Torture can lead to multiple disabling conditions that interfere with even the most basic functions of daily life. Symptoms can include chronic pain in muscles and joints, headaches, incessant nightmares and other sleep disorders, stomach pain and nausea, severe depression and anxiety, guilt, self-hatred, inability to concentrate, posttraumatic stress disorder and thoughts of suicide. Survivors of torture and war atrocities can become immobilized by their feelings and symptoms, unable to function within their communities or contribute to their family’s well-being.

Q.  Why is torture wrong?
Torture affects five basic human needs: the need to feel safe, the need to trust, the need to feel of value (self worth), the need to feel close to others, and the need to feel some control over one's life. Torture’s purpose is to break an individual’s will and render them helpless, destroy a sense of community, stifle civil society, create a climate of fear and silence dissent.  

Q.  What does CVT do?
CVT works in three interrelated areas – providing clinical care to torture and trauma survivors; capacity building and resilience; public policy and human rights advocacy. CVT rebuilds the lives and restores the hope of people who survive torture and war atrocities by extending rehabilitative care to survivors. In addition, CVT works to develop capacity for local mental health care staff, so that these counselors contribute to the long-term mental health needs in their countries. CVT provides technical assistance and training to torture survivor rehabilitation centers in the U.S. and around the world to strengthen each center’s mental health services, organizational management and financial stability. CVT conducts research on and evaluation of rehabilitative care for survivors to determine the effects of torture and successful treatment approaches. CVT engages in public policy and public education initiatives to end torture and to increase government support for torture rehabilitation programs in the U.S. and abroad. CVT directs the New Tactics in Human Rights program, and manages the HealTorture.org website.

Q.  Where does CVT work?
In the United States, CVT extends interdisciplinary rehabilitative care at our healing centers in St. Cloud and St. Paul, Minnesota, and Atlanta, Georgia. In 2021, CVT also established a new initiative on the U.S. Southern border, working with asylum seekers. Internationally, CVT extends rehabilitative care to survivors in Nairobi, Kenya; Amman, Jordan; the Tigray and Gambella regions of Ethiopia; and the Gulu and Isingiro regions of Uganda.

Q.  Where do most torture and war trauma survivors in the Twin Cities and Clarkston come from?
The majority of clients at our healing center in St. Paul, Minnesota, come from countries in Africa; overall, the most common countries of origin are Ethiopia, Liberia and Cameroon. The Healing Hearts project in St. Paul is focused on Karen refugees from Burma. CVT Georgia clients come from more than 20 different countries of origin: the most represented countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and Mexico.

Q.  How do survivors hear about CVT?
Many survivors hear about CVT through word of mouth in the community and referrals by health care, legal and community services organizations.

Q.  What are CVT’s public policy priorities?
CVT’s federal policy advocacy centers in three primary areas: appropriations to government programs that fund torture survivor rehabilitation in the U.S. and internationally; refugee and asylum policy; and national security and human rights issues. In Georgia, our work focuses on building broader support for refugees, asylum seekers, human rights and tolerance. In Minnesota we have launched a new portfolio of work on police violence, criminal justice reform and related issues. In all of our policy advocacy work, we leverage the credibility gained through extending care and rehabilitation to torture survivors into effective campaigns that generate broad and bipartisan political support.

Q.  How is CVT funded?
The Fiscal Year 2022 budget totals $28.7 million, of which $7.3 million will be contributed by individuals, foundations, corporate philanthropies and other institutions. $21.4 million will be earned through government contracts and medical and case management billing.

Q.  What is the New Tactics in Human Rights program?
Through the New Tactics in Human Rights program, CVT promotes tactical innovation and strategic thinking within the international human rights community on various human rights issues. Through a vast network of workshops, publications and online discussions, local activists can share strategies and tactics that have worked elsewhere and apply them to new regions or issues.

Q.  How can I help?
To learn more about how you can make a difference in the lives of torture and war trauma survivors, visit What You Can Do.