The Center for Victims of Torture

What We Do

More than 50,000 torture survivors are living in Minnesota today.

They are men, women and children who have endured devastating events and are now rebuilding their lives in a new community.

Through mental and physical health care, research, training, and policy advocacy we are working towards our bold vision for a world free of torture. We provide a bridge between torture survivors, the local community and society as a whole, working to restore the dignity of the human spirit one survivor at a time. 

Global Leadership, Home Grown in Minnesota

Locally

CVT was founded in 1985 in St. Paul. Torture survivors receive out-patient care at several locations, including our Healing Center in St. Paul. A team of healers provides holistic healing care through medical and nursing care, psychotherapy, social services and massage and physical therapy. 

We saw 256 clients in Minnesota this year from over 30 countries, including Ethiopia, Liberia, Cameroon, and Burma. 

Globally

Our international healing initiatives are in refugee camps and post-conflict areas where few mental health resources are available. We train local community members and refugees to meet the mental health needs of their compatriots for the long term.

 We offer training around the world so that individuals and organizations can learn new and improved ways to provide healing services to torture survivors. We conduct rigorous evaluation and monitoring to ensure the work we do is effective, and share that research to improve the movement. And we demand justice from policymakers in Washington D.C. as well as locally in Minnesota and Georgia.

Double Your Impact! This Give to the Max Day, caring Minnesotans like you have shown survivors of torture that they don't have to walk on their healing journeys alone. On November 20th, all gifts will be doubled, up to our matching goal of $10,000. That means your gift will go twice as far. Thank you for helping survivors right here in Minnesota, and around the world, get their lives back.

What You Can Help Make Possible:

Strengthening Healing Centers Worldwide 

• Every day, torture survivors reach out for help. But we can’t meet the growing need alone. With your help, CVT can grow our Healing Centers across Africa, the Middle East, and North America to help say "yes" to the survivors who come to us in need of healing care.

Your support helps bring life-changing care to survivors waiting for hope.

Healing Trauma at the Southern Border

• Far too many asylum seekers arrive at our border traumatized, only to face more suffering and cruelty. By expanding services to the Southern Border, CVT will provide direct care to help survivors begin to heal.

Your support brings compassion and care where it’s needed most.

Repairing the U.S. Refugee and Asylum Systems

• America’s asylum system is broken, and people’s lives are on the line. CVT is leading efforts to pass the Refugee Protection Act, ensuring safety and justice for those fleeing persecution.

Your gift helps build a fair and humane system that welcomes those seeking refuge.

Rejecting Torture in All Forms 

• CVT stands firm: torture is never acceptable anywhere, by anyone. We continue to demand accountability and justice for survivors.

Your donation strengthens the global movement to end torture once and for all.

You are a welcoming light for survivors of torture.