Our History

CVT was founded in 1985 as a nongovernmental organization after the governor of Minnesota, Rudy Perpich, assembled a committee to recommend initiatives that would make a difference for human rights. The committee proposed creation of the United States’ first center for rehabilitative care for survivors of torture. The Center for Victims of Torture opened in St. Paul, with one counselor. Over the years, we grew geographically and programmatically, today offering culturally-competent and interdisciplinary care to survivors, along with initiatives to end torture, enhance the skills and resilience of human rights defenders and organizations, and to facilitate justice for survivors.

Great progress has been made in that time. Since CVT began our work, the United States ratified the Convention against Torture, passed the Torture Victims Relief Act, and filed a presidential executive order banning torture. In addition, tens of thousands of survivors found care and began rebuilding their lives after torture.

Check out highlights from our history.