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This year 26 June Campaign took place during the 23 June-2 July and comprised a series of actions organized by different NGOs which support survivors of torture. But the actual work started even before this period, when we decided to join our efforts and to collaborate with UNDP Moldova, it took us 3 meetings, hundreds of hours of preparation and dozens of emails to prepare for this event, RCTV Memoria had a coordinating role during all of this time. Finally, the Preliminary Activity plan for joint activities was drafted together with Amnesty International Moldova, Promo-LEX, Moldova 1, Human Rights Embassy and UNDP Moldova.

According to the Plan were organized and implemented the following events:

      1. Press Conference

On June 23, a Press Conference was organized, where Ludmila Popovici together with the representatives of Amnesty International Moldova and Promo-LEX kick started the 26 June Campaign “Victims of Torture have the Right to Rehabilitation” with the slogan "Rehabilitation must be a priority for society and a reality for survivors!".

2. “Carta Drepturilor/Bill of Rights” Moldova 1 program

On the 17^th of June the crew of the “Carta Drepturilor/Bill of Rights” Moldova 1 program came to RCTV Memoria to shoot the program – they discussed with staff members about the assistance provided at our Center.

            3. Roundtable organized by Ombudsmen Office

On 26 June, Ludmila Popovici, Executive Director, was invited as an expert to the Ombudsmen Office Roundtable which was focused on the situation with torture and ill-treatment in places of detention. Together with Gheorghe Bosii, the Ombudsman, Claude Chan, UN Human Rights Adviser, Ana Dabija, Head of the Penitentiary Institutions Department they discussed about precarious conditions in Penitentiary Institutions and means of prevention of torture and ill-treatment during detention. At this Roundtable were present heads of penitentiary institutions and civil society representatives. Some interesting issues were raised during the meeting: conditions of detention of the disabled people, feasibility of such a big plot of land given for the construction of another detention facility. Ludmila Popovici pointed out the state’s obligation to ensure the realization of the right to rehabilitation and the need to pay attention to human dignity regarding both the inmates and the prison’s staff.

           4. “Dosar public” Moldova 1 TV program

During one of the programs devoted to torture phenomenon in Moldova, Moldova 1 brought into discussion torture in the army. During the program, Ludmila Popovici, the Executive Director, defended torture victims’ rights to confidentiality and their right not to speak out explaining that form a psychological point of view it is understandable that the victim doesn’t want to talk about the traumatic experience in order to avoid the pain it may bring.

5. "Never alone, never forgotten! " Marathon  

Representatives of Amnesty International Moldova, RCTV Memoria, Promo-Lex, Human Rights Embassy, Ombudsman's Office in Moldova, other NGOs and Human Rights activists, attended the "Never alone, never forgotten! " marathon on June 27 to mark June 26 - UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Seventeen RCTV Memoria staff members, beneficiaries and volunteers have participated in the marathon, three of them were in the first ten participants and received percents provided by UNDP Moldova.

6. Open Air Meeting with Beneficiaries “The Art to Live with Dignity”

RCTV Memoria organized this commemorative meeting to mark the 26 June Campaign - UN International Day in Support of Survivors of Torture.

Annually, RCTV Memoria team organizes a heartwarming meeting with our beneficiaries, including the elderly who passed through the ordeal in Siberia. The event was attended by people who have recently experienced suffering, but also by the refugees who arrived in Moldova from countries where now it's war or terror. They were joined by our supporters, friends and people of good faith. Even S.E. Pirkka Tapiola Lord, Head of EU Delegation in Moldova honored us with his presence

During the meeting were performed the following activities: 

Group picture 

Helped by an experienced teacher and artist, Inga Orehova, our guests created a masterpiece – two oil pictures. All participants contributed by leaving some marks on the canvas using brushes or their hands, which will remain forever embedded in these works of art.

The Tree of Hope - Our beneficiaries and guests shared their sacred wishes and hopes about the future writing them on a colourful piece of paper and hang them on a tree symbolically letting them go into the future and expecting them to come true.

Artistic performances   - playing the guitar;  poetry reading by Gheorge Grîu, an actor;  break dance,  music provided by music band Crescendo.

Also, games, music and snacks made the atmosphere for the 105 present participants more relaxing and more fun. All the participants received a tot bag kindly provided by UNDP Moldova.

The event took place near plot of land, where we still hope a Study and Treatment of Trauma Center/RCTV Memoria will be built (str. Vasile Lupu 22/3).

7. Launching the Fundraising Campaign

On July 6, we launched our online Fundraising Campaign: You can bring Peace in a soul and Smile on a face. Donate to save! Donate to heal! Donate to make a difference! This Campaign started due to the lack of support from state representatives and donors’ being reluctant to support rehabilitation of torture victims because it is a political issue our Center can be closed. So, we decided to ask people of good faith to help us to fulfill our mission.