The UN declared 26^th of June the United Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture. To honor these victims and their families, International Bridges to Justice brought together members of every faith at the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Center in Geneva, Switzerland to light a candle and say a prayer for the end of torture in our lifetime.

Religious leaders, country representatives, and members of the Geneva community came together to stand in solidarity with International Bridges to Justice and the efforts of our JusticeMakers and Fellows around the world working to enact justice for all accused.

Guests gather at the World Council of Churches’ Chapel

Michael French conducts the welcoming

Reverend Richard Gyhra representative from the Holy See Mission to the United Nations in Geneva

“We also pray for a change of heart of the perpetrators of torture, because we want what is good, what is true, and what is just.”

-Rev. Richard Gyhra

Reverend John Beach, Rector of Emmanuel Church in Geneva

“We give thanks to you, for those who defend human rights and the various people who work with determination and faithfulness for the care of  all victims of violence. Let us never make peace with despair.”

-Reverend John Beach

Vuillemin Vincent Keisen from the Zen Dojo of Geneva

“As numerous are the sentient beings, we make the vow to save them all.”

-Vuillemin Vincent Keisen

Dr. Rama Mani offering a chant for peace

“I ask us to prayer for all the torturers around the world.  May their shuttered hearts be blown open by the power of love. May they rediscover their humanity, so they can begin the long journey to undo their harm and to sow the seeds of love.”

-Dr. Rama Mani

Rav Dr. Izhak Dayan, Grand Rabbai of Geneva

“Our leaders today must learn that abusing weak and helpless prisoners compromises our ideals and diminishes rather than enhances our power”

-Rav Dr. Izhak Dayan

Faramarz Falahi and Ramin Granfar

Faramarz Falahi quoted Kitab-i-Aqdas who spoke of the human condition in regards to the Baha’i faith:

«l’importance de la valeur des êtres humains, de l’importance de la coexistence paçifique , de la coopération et du soutien mutuel, sans discrimination, haine, hostilité et préjugés religieuses aveugles »

“the importance of the value of human beings, the importance of peaceful coexistence, cooperation and mutual support, without discrimination, hatred, hostility and blind religious prejudice”

Amir Hashom and Sayed Salih Al-Hakim from the Al-Hakim Foundation

Sayed Salih Al-Hakim

Sayed Salih Al-Hakim, Director of the Dialogue Center “Al-Hikma,” in Najaf, Iraq, offered a prayer for a commitment to peace from every faith.

Geshi Luntok, Geshi Gedun, and Othok Rinpoche, from the Shedrub Choekhor Ling Monastery and Buddhist Center in Mont Salève offering a chant

Othok Rinpoche

“Je prie et je souhaite le monde de vient une famille, et comme une famille, et pour ça on a tous la responsabilité de faire ce qu’on peut.”

“I pray and I hope the world becomes a family; we all have the responsibility of doing what we can for our family.”

-Othok Rinpoche

Founder and CEO of IBJ, Karen Tse

“We are at a time in history where standing on the side of righteousness says we will stand with everyone. We will stand because no one should be tortured.”

-Karen Tse

The IBJ Choir leads the singing of Word of Justice with Patty Solomon

Sanda Freeman leads Dona Nobis Pacem

Guests were invited to light a candle

Karen Tse and Rav Dr. Izhak Dayan

Maria Teresa Avila Shogetsu, Vuillemin Vincent Keisen, and Reverend Richard Gyhra

Rav Dr. Izhak Dayan, Maria Teresa Avila Shogetsu, and Vuillemin Vincent Keisen

Reverend Beth Linguri closes with a moment of reflection

“We bring this energy of love and surround them with this light. This brings peace and justice and the qualities of love into those places where there appears to be separation, where there appears to be injustice.”

-Rev. Beth Linguri

Esteemed guests and IBJ staff gather together after the Vigil

On June 26, 2014, the IBJ China Program office in Beijing hosted an interfaith vigil event for the purpose of sending the message to end torture worldwide.  During the vigil, prayers and sermons from various faiths were recited by employees and interns at the IBJ, which included messages from the Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist communities.  Each prayer or sermon contained a theme of ending torture and promoted peace and healing.

IBJ’s Beijing staff at the Beijing Bell Tower

The IBJ China team posted IBJ banners in our office during the vigil and also lit incense on an altar at the office.  After the vigil, the IBJ team went to various locations around Beijing to take additional photos with the IBJ Vigil banners, including the famous Drum Tower in Guloudajie, the Bell Tower in Guloudajie, and the Bird’s Nest site in the Beijing Olympic Center.

IBJ’s China staff at their office in Beijing

What made this event so worthwhile was that it gave the IBJ China office a chance to step back and reflect on the IBJ’s short-term and long-term goals in the aspect of torture.  We were reminded of Karen Tse’s message for why this is such an important and meaningful cause, and her experiences are a significant driving force behind the IBJ’s projects.  This vigil demonstrated how people of different faiths and different cultures could unite in achieving the same peaceful resolution, and that message was truly inspiring to me.

IBJ’s team at Bell & Drum towers in Beijing, China

After reciting the prayers and messages from different faiths during the vigil, I was reminded of the significance and value of the IBJ’s work around the world, and I felt further motivated to contribute to the IBJ in any way that I can.  I truly hope that other IBJ workers and volunteers around the world were as affected by this vigil in the same way that I was.  No matter what our faiths or backgrounds are, we can all work together in achieving our goals if we continue to stay motivated and remain persistent.  For all these reasons, the vigil was a great success and I am truly grateful for having this experience with my IBJ team!