Why should you want to be part of this action?

To show your involvement in wishing to give support to all those suffering torture around the world.

To become part of the worldwide membership of those holding vigil because the Light should never be hidden under a bushel& To help publicise this great chain of prayer that will be taking place.

How it will work

Each person agrees to pray for at least fifteen minutes between 8.00 pm on the night of June 28 through to 8.00 am the following Sunday morning. You can keep solitary prayer during the silent night hours or you can choose to come together with others who have agreed to take part locally in a communal act of prayer.

The Night Vigil for 2008 is over !


While waiting for the 2009 Night Vigil, which will take place on June 27, 2009, you can find on our site the texts proposed to accompany your prayers in 2008.

The 2008 Night Vigil was a success; let’s have even more of us participate next year. For all Christians are called to remain vigilant to rid the world of all forms of torture.


What is the Night Vigil?

It’s a night of prayers throughout the world, organized by ACAT in support of the international day of support for the victims of torture. ACATs propose that all Christians of all confessions committ themselves to pray for victims of torture in the course of a night, for a moment or throughout the night. Be it individual or collective (see under “Your Initiatives”) prayer becomes cry and praise, accompanies actions and conveys them to the heart of God.


What is torture?

To torture is to voluntarily inflict intense suffering, physical or mental. Sometimes to extract information or confessions, more often to punish or demean; always to frighten, to terrorize family and friends of chosen victims, and to maintain power. It is the destruction of humans. By other humans. Nearly one out of two countries use torture.