Every June, human rights and faith organizations join together to mark Torture Awareness Month because on June 26, 1987, the nations of the world took a major step against the immoral and abhorrent practice of torture. On that day, the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT for short) entered into force and the United Nations later declared June 26th the “International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.”

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) invites you, and your local church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or faith community, to join people of faith throughout the world in commemorating Torture Awareness Month. NRCAT has small grants available to support events in your faith community. Please contact Rev. T.C. Morrow at 202-547-1920 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  if you interested in learning more.

IDEAS FOR MARKING TORTURE AWARENESS MONTH

Host a Screening & Discussion of the NRCAT film "Torture in Our Name": Torture in Our Name is a new NRCAT documentary directed by filmmaker Matthew Gossage, featuring movement leaders with first-hand experience of solitary confinement and faith leaders from three state campaigns to end solitary – the Louisiana Stop Solitary Coalition, the New York Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement/#HALTSolitary Campaign, and New Jersey Prison Justice Watch. The film is a call to action for communities of faith and conscience to engage in the growing nationwide movement to end the torture of solitary confinement. Learn more about the film and download a discussion guide to help you plan your screening and discussion.

Sign the National Pledge: Add your name to NRCAT's new National Pledge: A Moral Call to End the Torture of Solitary Confinement. After you sign it, invite others in your community, congregation, or organization to sign it! Download a printable version.

Watch "The Mauritanian": The film tells the story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi and his fight for freedom after being detained, tortured, and imprisoned without charge in Guantanamo. Now available for streaming from $4.99, we encourage you to watch it and to invite others to watch it as well. If you get a group to watch it (either together or separately) you can then use NRCAT's The Mauritanian Viewing and Discussion Guide to organize an online or in-person post-watch discussion and advocacy group.

Display a Banner: Do you have an anti-torture banner? If you don’t have a banner but would like to display one, banners are available at a reduced rate or free of charge for congregations to display with messages including “Close Guantanamo” or “Solitary Confinement = Torture.” Please contact Rev. T.C. Morrow at 202-547-1920 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  if you interested in acquiring a banner from NRCAT. Also, be sure to take a picture and send it to T.C. and tag NRCAT in social media posts.

Contact Elected Officials: Updated Action Alert coming soon.

Host a Prayer Vigil: You might hold a brief prayer vigil on Facebook Live or in-person. Prayers and other resources are available on our Worship & Interfaith Resources page.

Write a Letter to the Editor: Click here for sample talking points on closing Guantanamo

Raise Awareness or Share Action Alerts on Social Media: See our sample posts and tweets. Use social media to promote anti-torture messages during June. Be sure to tag us when you Tweet or write a Facebook status update.

You can also support our on-going anti-torture work with a tax-deductible gift. Thank you for your support.