We celebrate that on this day in 1987, the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment came into effect, recognizing that torture is a crime against all of humanity and is illegal everywhere and at all times.”

“Most of all, today we extend our respect and recognition to all survivors and their families. On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we stand with them. They know that the future does not belong to the dictators, war criminals and torturers. It belongs to those who are prepared to stand up for dignity, justice and human rights.”
-Simon Adams, CVT president and CEO

Ethiopia

Amhara

The CVT Ethiopia team in Amhara commemorated the day in Alem Wach refugee site, starting with a panel discussion with partner organizations, representatives from UNHCR and refugee representatives.

Held at the Innovative Humanitarian Solutions (IHS) child-friendly space, on 26 June, the team hosted over 1,000 people for a day of activities. The crowd enjoyed dramas, poems, Q&A sessions and a donation ceremony for the refugee communities. These events were

Gambella

The CVT Ethiopia team in Gambella share messages of solidarity and support for survivors:

We stand strong together against torture.

jordan

Staff and survivors share their passions and interactions with CVT Jordan. Below, survivors who have been positively impacted by CVT Jordan share their experiences and show the comparison of their lives before and after their trauma and recovery.

United States

Clarkston, Georgia

A special event honoring the resilience of clients was hosted by the CVT Georgia team in Milam Park in Clarkston, sharing food and music from many regions where clients are from, arts and crafts for the children, games and fun, and even spontaneous singing and dancing. The event was held on Saturday so that as many clients as possible could join in the celebration, and more than 40 clients and family members attended!

St. Paul Healing Center, Minnesota

Each year for June 26, the clinical team in St. Paul hosts a special event with clients and community to honor the courage and resilience of survivors. This year featured words of strength, messages of hope, a traditional clothing fashion show, singing, music, beautiful gardens and great food. The event was a great success, with more than 70 attendees!

Courageous Voices Event

For the second year, CVT’s 2024 Courageous Voices virtual event celebrated the strength of survivors and those who stand up for them, bringing together a global community to commemorate the Int’l Day in Support of Victims of Torture and shine a light on stories of courage. Highlights this year included a special welcome from Dr. Alice Jill Edwards, UN special rapporteur on torture, as well as a stories and voices of survivors and staff from our global programs.

In addition, the annual CVT Eclipse Award went to Casa Alitas, a shelter for asylum seekers in Tucson, Arizona, where people fleeing torture find support, care and a helping hand as they take the next step in their journey. Diego Piña Lopez, the former director of Casa Alitas, accepted the award from Simon Adams.