Week Against Torture 2022 Program schedule Updated
International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus together with the Viasna Human Rights Center, Legal Initiative, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Viasna Volunteer network, Youth Council RADA, initiatives politzek.me and dissidentby invite you to participate in the events of the Week against torture from June 20 to 26.
The events will take place in Warsaw, Vilnius, and Tbilisi, as well as online.Registration links for some of the events are provided below. All events are free, except the charity concert in Vilnius. We respect your privacy and take security measures in all event venues. All times are local.
Please note that there may be changes to the program.
Warsaw
June 23, Thursday
- Discussion: Why talk about torture?
Discussion with the interviewer and the victim of torture. Whether it is worthy to go through re-traumatization for the sake of punishing the perpetrators is a topic for discussion.
6 pm, register for the event.
- Frank talks about torture
Frank talks is a close to The Living Library event format where you get a chance to talk personally with a lawyer, a torture survivor, a human rights activist, and other heroes.
7 pm, register for the event
June 25, Saturday
- 5 Myths about Political Prisoners: Presentation and mini-discussion by Politzek.me initiative
You will get answers to the most popular questions, learn how to support political prisoners now, and why it is especially important to pay attention to inmates with health issues.
6 pm, register for the event
- “The White Sun of a Red Summer” film screening with a welcoming speech from the directors
The film tells the story of Belarus on August 9, 2020. explores the protest and its impact on people's fates through the words of eyewitnesses.
7 pm, register for the event
June 26, Sunday
- Legal Default and political prisoners in Belarus 2020: presentation with discussion by dissidentby project
You will learn about the dissidentby activities, as well as the goals, objectives, success stories, and challenges encountered in the project’s work to assist political prisoners.
6 pm, register for the event
- “Portrait of an impisoned antifa: Illia Valavik gets 10 years in jail” film screening
The film, made by activists, tells the story of one of the many lives destroyed by Belarusian ‘stability’ and ‘order’ and of a man who has been experiencing all the consequences of the ideological conflict for the past six years.
7:30 pm, register for the event
Vilnius
June 22, Wednesday
- Performance “The cell”
A cage the size of a prison cell will be set up in the Lukiškės Square to let you experience the conditions in which Belarusian prisoners are held.
5 to 8 pm, Lukiškių aikštė (Lukiškės Square)
June 23, Thursday
- Photo exhibition “Being an Honest Belarusian”
The exhibition of portraits of those who suffered from security forces in Belarus will be held at Gediminas Avenue (Gedimino prospektas), 51.
- Anti-War Report of the Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus presentation
A report on the torture of people detained at anti-war rallies will be presented. The meeting will discuss the mechanism of bringing the perpetrators to justice, Aliaksandr Lukashenka's role in the war, and the situation of human rights in Belarus.
12 noon, register for the event
June 24, Friday
- Politically motivated criminal and administrative prosecution in Belarus, conditions of detention in penitentiary facilities: Presentation of reports by the Viasna Human Rights Center
Viasna human rights defenders will present three reports on criminal and administrative politically motivated prosecution in Belarus over the last year, as well as the conditions in the places of detention.
12 noon, IMAGURU, register for the event
- [NEW] Theater of the oppressed, the practice of living violence. Training by the Viasna Volunteer Service
The program includes theatrical exercises related to body sensations, discussions about the hierarchy of power in society through interactive practices, and theory about the method of the theater of the oppressed.
You don't have to be a professional performer to participate. Theater of the Oppressed, or forum theater, is an improvisational format related to an acute social topic. Theater of the oppressed helps to look at the problem of society, to find a way out of it, so that in real life, not remain indifferent. It is an interactive way to raise important topics and discuss human rights.
6:30 pm, registration required
June 25, Saturday
- Visit of MEPs to the Lithuanian shelter for Belarusians
A meeting with representatives of the European Parliament and the Seimas of Lithuania will be held in the shelter for Belarusians. The event is by invitation only.
June 25, Saturday
- Charity concert “Fed up with violence”
All profits from ticket sales will go to the Ukrainian relief fund.
6 pm, LOFTAS (Švitrigailos g. 29).Buy tickets
June 26, Sunday
- Rally against violence in support of Belarus and Ukraine
3 pm, start at Vincas Kudirka Square (Gedimino pr.)
- “The White Sun of a Red Summer” film screening with a welcoming speech from the directors
6 pm, register for the event
Tbilisi
June 23, Thursday
- An improvised reading of Enzhe Gizzatova's play “It's hard for me to talk about it...”
The play portrays the realities of women in the Gulag and is accompanied by a professional psychologist. The play will be followed by a reflective session with elements of discussion of the experiences and emotions of the participants. The event is organized by the youth council RADA.
7 pm, register for the event
Online events
June 20, Monday
- Lecture “Freedom from torture through the prism of the National Human Rights Index”
A conversation with a qualified audience about how a state should be organized on the basis of the Index so that torture in it is an anomaly and not part of the system. The event is hosted by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.
9 am (CET), ZOOM, registration
- Quiz “What is torture?”
Launched by the Coordinating Council's Majority Movement chatbot helps Belarusians to perform small tasks that benefit the community. During the Week against torture, the bot team suggests you take a quiz and check your understanding of what is considered torture.
June 21, Tuesday
- Strategic litigation and advocacy digest
The International Committee to Investigate Torture in Belarus to launch a website about procedures and organizations that deal with Belarusian cases abroad.
- A discussion on Malanka LIVE channel on the topic of torture in Belarus
During this program, data about the number of tortures since August 2020 will be announced. We will talk about what methods are now used by Belarusian law enforcement and how to eradicate such practices and bring the perpetrators to justice, and help the victims of torture to be rehabilitated.
12 noon CET, watch live
June 25, Saturday
- Interactive lecture “Youth and torture. How young people are tortured in Belarus”
The Youth council RADA will talk about the ban on torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and punishment.
1 pm (CET), ZOOM, registration
UPDATE: The program was updated with the event “Theater of the oppressed, the practice of living violence” which is organized by Viasna Volunteer Service and will be held in Vilnius on June 24.
