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Notes from the Ground

CVT World, January 2025

Published January 15, 2025

Welcome to the January 2025 issue of CVT World, CVT’s periodic compilation of the latest news, stories and public activities from our team.

CVT Celebrates our 40th Anniversary in 2025

It’s our 40th anniversary this year! CVT was incorporated as a nonprofit in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 1985, and we had just one therapist. Today CVT has offices in six countries and more than 500 staff. In a message to staff, Dr. Simon Adams, president and CEO, wrote, “I’m very proud of CVT’s legacy of humanitarian and human rights work around the world, and of all of you who continue to carry out our mission every day.” Check out the CVT History page here and watch for invitations to participate in activities in the months to come.

Self-Care and Wellbeing from the Inside Out

“Whether we are interacting with clients for mental health sessions or case management, creating programming, training partners, handling social media or running payroll, everyone should have the opportunity to center their own well-being throughout their work week,” writes Zuri White-Gibson, communications strategist and U.S. DEI Committee member, in this article about CVT’s self-care and wellbeing practices. “We hoped to take a direction that fosters intentional practices and creates a culture of caring for one another,” said Cory Matkovich, U.S. DEI committee member and IDREAM project officer.

News Commentary: Relations between the UN and New U.S. Administration

Simon Adams spoke to Mitch McCann in this article in Channel News Asia about the relationship between President-elect Donald Trump and the United Nations. Simon raises concerns about the lack of support of the UN from Donald Trump and his pick for UN ambassador, Elise Stefanik. “We need the United States being in the room and being a player that’s trying to work with others and trying to find global solutions,” Simon said.

We need the United States being in the room and being a player that’s trying to work with others and trying to find global solutions.”

Dr. Simon Adams, CVT president & CEO

CVT Opposes the Laken Riley Act

Emily Hutchinson, vice president of global programs, worked with Alison Beckman, senior clinician for external relations, to share this statement, voicing CVT’s opposition to the Laken Riley Act, which will cause harm and impact healing for our clients. Emily spoke at a press conference in Minneapolis called by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, along with representatives from Domestic Abuse Project and additional partner organizations. Emily said, “Victims deserve legislation that empowers them to heal, rebuild their lives and seek justice without fear of further trauma or retribution. The Laken Riley Bill, however, would do the opposite.” Mary Moriarty’s press release is here, and you can watch the press conference here; Emily speaks at 26:50.

New Tactics in Human Rights Launches a New Website

Human rights activists have a new tool to help change the world! New Tactics in Human Rights has launched this brand new website, full of resources, trainings, networking and community for human rights defenders. Check out the site now, in English and Arabic. Congratulations to the team, with enormous thanks to Mitchell Katayama, Melissa McNeilly, Ayman Malhis, Noor Zada and the New Tactics team for all their work on this!

Panel Event & News Commentary on Guantánamo Detention Facility

Guantánamo Uncovered Panel Event: The development and policy teams held a livestreamed panel discussion featuring Scott Roehm, CVT director of global policy & advocacy, and Alison Beckman, along with Dana Chivvis and Jessica Weisberg, producers of the “Serial” podcast, who devoted Season 4 to Guantánamo. The event was a great success, with in-depth discussion of the efforts for justice, the wide-ranging impacts of torture and the potential future of Guantánamo, a place where, according to the panelists, it feels like nothing makes sense. Read more here.

Scott Roehm spoke on NPR as 11 detainees were transferred out of Guantánamo. The men, all of whom are Yemeni, were transferred to Oman after being held for more than 20 years without ever being charged with a crime. Scott told reporter Sacha Pfeiffer that this is a good step but noted that the Biden administration could have transferred the men much earlier, and should have. He said that acting this late means there is very little time to transfer others before President Biden leaves office. He said, “Releasing this many men in just a few weeks makes clear what could have been done over the rest of the last four years, had the administration acted then with the same urgency and commitment that it’s acting now.” The segment ran on NPR’s Morning Edition and Up First programs.

Releasing this many men in just a few weeks makes clear what could have been done over the rest of the last four years, had the administration acted then with the same urgency and commitment that it’s acting now.”

Scott Roehm, director of global policy & advocacy

Scott was also quoted in this New York Times article Jan. 3: “Guantánamo Convict Sues to Stop U.S. Plan to Send Him to Prison in Iraq.” Detainee Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, whose preferred name is Nashwan al-Tamir, one of the oldest detainees at Guantánamo, is suing the U.S. government to prevent being transferred to a prison in Iraq where he is likely to face abuses and inadequate medical care. Scott comments that “senior State Department officials have previously determined that Mr. al-Tamir couldn’t be sent to an Iraqi prison without violating the prohibition on torture.” He adds, “The State Department’s own human rights reports, which are consistent with that determination, find that Iraqi prisons are rife with serious human rights abuses, torture included.”

News Commentary: U.S. Media Coverage of Gaza

Simon Adams appeared on Al Jazeera 360 to discuss news media coverage and inaccurate narratives on the conflict in Gaza, as well as the role of journalists working in the conflict zones and the risks they face. Simon commented on the disconnect many people in the United States have between coverage by American outlets and what is reported by NGOs, the UN and Palestinians about the realities of targeted hospitals, homes and deaths of civilians and children in Gaza. He said this minimizes “the true horror of what is unfolding in Gaza.” In addition, he said that “murdering journalists has made it harder to get the story of what is happening in Gaza to a wider world. It has meant that the US media has tended to default to worn-out old narratives about Israelis and Palestinians.”

News Commentary: Torture and Human Morality

Simon Adams spoke on Voice of Islam radio, United Kingdom, on a segment titled, “Torture: The Limits of Human Morality.” He shared information about CVT’s global work as well as commenting on issues of torture around the world. He said, “We’re living in a new age of impunity, and there’s just been a decade now of inaction . . . We don’t need more laws. What we need is governments to uphold these human rights norms and laws with consistency and with courage.” Listen to the clip here; Simon begins at the 14:50 mark.

We don’t need more laws. What we need is governments to uphold these human rights norms and laws with consistency and with courage.”

Simon Adams

Syria and International Justice After Assad

After the Assad regime has finally left Syria, Simon Adams writes about the need for justice for Syria. He writes, “Syria’s former dictator, Bashar al-Assad, deserves to live out his remaining days in a prison cell in Damascus or The Hague, not a luxury apartment in Moscow,” and notes the challenges in front of Syrians as they seek to hold Assad accountable. He writes, “But it is not too late to bend the arc of history. The Syrian people remain thirsty for justice.” Read the article here in Arabic.

CVT Welcomes Two New Members to Our Board of Directors

CVT announced the election of two new members to our board of directors: Jane Di Leo and Monika Parikh were elected at the December meeting and begin their terms now. Simon Adams said, “These notable individuals bring extraordinary backgrounds to CVT in fields ranging from journalism to human rights advocacy, public relations to executive leadership. Their guidance and significant skills will help steer CVT as we continue our strategic expansion.” In addition, current board members were elected to officer positions: Julia Classen as board chair, Gloria Contreras Edin as vice chair, Connie Magnuson as treasurer and Kate Barr as secretary.

ABC TV Affiliate News Story: “Local Group Giving Hope, Creating Community for Syrian Refugees”

Brittney Ermon with KSTP News in Minneapolis, Minnesota, broadcast this story about CVT’s work with Syrians, both in Jordan and in Minnesota. She spoke to Jill Davidson, targeted case management supervisor at the St. Paul Healing Center, and also to a former client from Syria now living in Amman. Interpretation was provided by Osama Al Araj, and Dr. Eman Al Shuaibi, senior psychosocial counselor, worked closely with the client for the interview. Osama Ahmad Al-Mohammad provided logistics coordination and support as well. The story aired on the ABC television affiliate during three broadcasts on Dec. 23 and was highlighted on their homepage and here on their YouTube page.

Working in Coalition with Partners

Working with partners brings strength to CVT’s policy advocacy. We regularly participate in actions that support survivors of torture. Below is one of these coalition and partner actions.

CVT joined partner organizations which serve refugees and asylum seekers in signing this letter to U.S. leaders. The letter expresses our solidarity with refugees and people who have been forcibly displaced and calls on leaders to welcome and provide refuge to people fleeing oppression and torture. The authors write, “It is our collective responsibility as Americans to welcome those most in need, offer refuge, and lift up our shared humanity, and we urge the incoming Trump administration to continue this legacy without hesitation.”

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