In 2020, the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) responded to the torture and murder of George Floyd by establishing a working group to understand how the organization might address human rights violations in the United States, and specifically police brutality. Through this workshop at the Overcoming Racism Conference, members of this CVT working group will share their process and lessons learned as the organization begins to address police brutality in the U.S., and the potential for providing mental health services for survivors of this abuse. CVT will also share lessons from our work in diverse country contexts with survivors of intersectional forms of oppression, discussing potential responses to torture inflicted by state actors including police and security forces. This session will additionally include links to resources we have gathered, participatory discussion, and 1-2 self-care activities practitioners and activists can use to try to strengthen our individual and organizational resilience and strength in direct services or in trainings.

CVT will also share lessons from our work in diverse country contexts with survivors of intersectional forms of oppression, discussing potential responses to torture inflicted by state actors including police and security forces.