26 June, the UN International Day in support of Victims of Torture, also happens to be Tree of Life’s birthday. This year was our 15th birthday and so our theme for the commemorations was “15 years of Trauma Healing”. We held two tributes with Partners, on 22nd June, 2018, in the Northern and Southern regions respectfully. The commemorations celebrated the long history of Tree of Life in trauma healing for survivors of torture and organized violence and the power of support love and community in the healing process. It also served as an occasion to stand in spiritual solidarity with all survivors of Torture around the world. We added our voices to those across the globe in support for the total eradication of this unspeakable crime. The Tree of Life participants, the majority of whom are themselves survivors stood in testament that it is possible to heal from the trauma and restore our dignity and hope for the future. The participants wrote messages of hope for the future and posted these on a commemoration walk.

“people tortured us but they could not take away the goodness in us. They did not destroy what we are fighting for”

“my pain and suffering has made me stronger and more determined to fight for peace, hope and human dignity”

“After I was tortured I became hopeless and at one time was thinking of death. But now I am very strong thanks to the Tree of Life healing process”.