[Peace] TOMORROW: Breaking the Silence of Torture W/ Dong Tizon!

[Jen Tayabji]

**Please forward widely**

TOMORROW!

Join the Illinois Disciples Foundation for our last event of the spring
semester!

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"Breaking the Silence of Torture:
Survivor and Activist Dong Tizon Speaks Out"

Thursday, April 20
7-9pm
Wisegarver Lounge at IDF

Free and open to the public!

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Orlando "Dong" Tizon is a Filipino activist who was imprisoned and
tortured under the Marcos regime for his activism with the rural poor
community in the Philippines. He is currently the Assistant Director of
the Torture Abolition Survivors Support Committee (TASSC) International.

Tizon was arrested on September 21, 1982 in Davao City, Philippines. In
the first three weeks of his imprisonment he was kept blindfolded and
incommunicado in a military camp. He suffered beatings, endless
interrogations, mock execution and solitary confinement during his
imprisonment. He was released in April 1986 after the Marcos regime
collapsed.

Subsequently he earned a doctorate in sociology. He has been with TASSC
International since 2000 and is presently the Assistant Director. TASSC
International is the only organization founded by and for survivors of
torture. It was established in 1998, on the guiding principles that
torture is a crime against humanity and that survivors are the strongest
and most effective voice in the campaign to end the practice of torture.
For more information on TASSC International, please visit
http://www.tassc.org.

>From Tizon's statement before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in 1998:

"I am glad that human rights is beginning to be included in U.S. foreign
policy calculations. But we all need to do more to rid our planet of this
'plague of the twentieth century' which is torture. We must widely
disseminate information about the practice and its effects on individuals
and society. I strongly ask that more resources be made available for
centers treating the survivors of torture."

Tizon will share his experiences as a torture survivor and how it led him
to become an activist. He will also discuss his current work, especially
how the use of torture is still so relevant with situations like Abu
Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, etc. Afterwards, there will be a facilitated
discussion.

Cosponsored By: Activist Forum, Amnesty International #124, Council on
American-Islamic Relations (UI Chapter), McKinley Foundation, National
Organization for Women (UIUC Chapter), Philippine Student Association,
Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative (PRC), Socialist Forum, U of I
Gender and Women Studies Program, University YMCA, U-C Friends Peace and
Service Committee, and Vietnam Veterans Against the War (CU Chapter).

The Illinois Disciples Foundation (IDF) is a pioneering peace with justice
campus ministry and non-profit organization located on the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. For more information please contact us
at (217) 352-8721, idf at prairienet.org, or visit our website at
http://www.prairienet.org/idf.

**The IDF is located at the NW corner of Springfield and Wright streets in
Champaign. It is only 2 blocks from the U of I Quad and on several CU-MTD
bus routes. Limited free parking is available. The event will be held in
Wisegarver Lounge on the 1st floor and is wheelchair accessible.

-- 
Illinois Disciples Foundation (IDF)
610 E. Springfield Ave.
Champaign, IL  61820
Office Hours: Mon - Fri from 12-5pm
(217) 352-8721 | idf at prairienet.org
www.prairienet.org/idf