Vigils in Davos
- Opening words from Philipp Wilhelm, Mayor of Davos
- Opening words from Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
- Shoukei Matsumoto, Ancestorist
- Pastor Hannah Thullen
- Rabbi Jonatan Neril
- Bani Dugal, UN Principal representative of the International Baha’i Community
- Opening words from Tarzisius Caviezel, Mayor of Davos
- Opening words from Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
- Ayatollah Dr. Ahmad Iravani, President and Executive Director, Center for the Study of Islam and the Middle East
- Kim Samuel, Chair and President, Samuel Family Foundation. Director, The Samuel Group
- Shiv Vikram Khemka, Vice-Chairman, SUN Group
- Opening words from Tarzisius Caviezel, Mayor of Davos
- Opening words from Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
- Ayatollah Dr. Ahmad Iravani, President and Executive Director, Center for the Study of Islam and the Middle East
- Reverend Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
- Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Chief Rabbi and President Conference of European Rabbis
- Opening words from Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
- Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Minister of Youth and ICT, Government of Rwanda
- Ayatollah Dr. Ahmad Iravani, President of the Centre for the Study of Islam and the Middle East
- Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
- Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, Pakistan Minister of State for Information Technology & Telecommunication
- Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson, President of the Zaytuna College
- Swami Agnivesh, President Emeritus, World Council of Arya Samaj
- Opening words from Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
- Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
- Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
- Ayatollah Dr. Ahmad Iravani, President of Centre for the Study of Islam and the Middle East.
- Bani Dugal, UN principal representative of the International Baha’i Community.
The recognition that torture is inhuman and under no circumstances acceptable remains a universal belief across all religions. Religious differences are easily overcome in the face of immorality, which is why International Bridges to Justice once again united global and spiritual leaders from different faiths to continue our Interfaith movement.
Representatives from different religions contributed by offering a prayer, chant or inspiring words in solidarity with our call to ensure the rights of all citizens. By uniting spiritual leaders, we aimed to ignite conversation, affirm our call to action, and maintain our commitment to the eradication of torture. We are proud to announce that we can look back on a beautiful, inspiring and successful Peace Vigil.
- Opening words from Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
- Thabo Cecil Makgoba Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa
- Rabbi David Rosen International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee (AJC)
- Bani Dugal UN principal representative of the International Baha’I Community Ayatollah
- Ahmad Iravani, President of Centre for the Study of Islam and the Middle East
- Ramya Krishnaswamy, Hindu singer and invoker
- Jim Wallis President and Founder of Sojourners
- Monk Shoukei Matsumoto managing Director of the Japan Fellowship of Buddhists
- Mathieu Ricard President and Co-Founder of Karuna-Shechen
Rev. Karen Tse and Hilde Schwab brought together religious leaders from around the world in Davos during the World Economic Forum. Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic, Anglican, Jewish and many more faith groups were represented and spoke of the high need to end torture, now.
The leaders know it is possible to end torture now by empowering people at every level to work together. They believe in this mission of IBJ.
This recognition is universal across all religions; religious differences are easily overcome in the face of something like torture. It’s a clear call from our most sacred sources to act now to end suffering and bring peace to the world; an imperative found in every holy tradition.
- Opening words from Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
- Cardinal, Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan
- Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin
- Ambassador, Dr Aref Ali Nayed
- Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
- Kimihiro Kitakawara, Vice-President of the Japan Buddhist Federation and Patriarch of Todaiji Temple
