August 22

is the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief (#IDCVAV). This date was established in 2019 by the United Nations General Assembly as a response to the increasing number of cases of persecution and discrimination based on faith.

August 22, at 21.00

• All of Poland – office buildings and cultural institutions will be lit up;
• Dobrzyń nad Wisłą, Góra Zamkowa – we will light torches in a gesture of solidarity with the persecuted;
• Online campaign of lighting candles and torches, and prayer (link to the prayer text) as an expression of solidarity with the victims of persecution.

How to participate?

• Meet us in Dobrzyń – take a torch or candle with you.

OR

• Share a photo of the lit candle and its symbolism on Facebook or Twitter. Mark it with Laboratory, add the hashtag: #IDCVAV, #august22, #FoRBmatters.
• You can also set a special overlay for the profile picture, that we have prepared for this occasion.

Join the Commemoration – build a culture of freedom!

Why is this day important?

• According to estimates by the Open Doors organization, about 260 million Christians face particularly severe persecution in 50 countries of the World Watch List. Last year, in these countries 2.983 Christians were killed due to their faith, and 3.711 were held without trial, arrested, convicted or imprisoned.
• Based on reports by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe, there were 325 documented violations of freedom of conscience and religion in Europe in 2018.
• In 2019, at least 64 cases of widespread violations of freedom of conscience and religion among Christians in Poland were recorded. Preliminary data from the first half of 2020 allow to assume that we can expect a comparable or greater intensity of attacks this year.

We invite you to watch the video promoting the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief (#IDCVAV).

More information about the Commemoration can also be found on the created event on Facebook.