The Campus Adventiste du Salève at Collonges-sous-Salève hosted a momentous edition of the 10th Human Rights Weekend on December 6-7, 2025, marking a significant transition for the International Centre for Religious Liberty and Public Affairs (CILRAP) while honoring outstanding champions of religious freedom.
The weekend opened with a powerful Sabbath morning sermon by special guest Dr. Jacques B. Doukhan, senior research professor of Hebrew and Old Testament exegesis and author. Drawing from the biblical story of Joseph, Doukhan explored how divine providence can bring good from evil circumstances—a theme that resonated deeply with the weekend's focus on human dignity and resilience. In the afternoon, he led a seminar examining the Sabbath in biblical context, enriching participants' understanding of this foundational principle of religious liberty.
The evening gala dinner became the centerpiece of celebration, with CILRAP presenting its recognitions and awards. The Prix Mémorial André Dufau honored the late diplomat and religious freedom advocate who dedicated his life to defending conscience rights, working alongside luminaries for religious freedom. His daughter, Monique Dufau-Zivkov, and son-in-law, Pastor Zoran Zivkov, received the medal on his behalf. Patricia Tierce-Sablier received the Prix CILRAP 2025 for her tireless work promoting religious liberty in Guadeloupe and the French Caribbean, while Dr. Doukhan was presented with the CILRAP Excellence Award recognizing his distinguished scholarly contributions.
A significant leadership transition marked the evening as John Graz, founding director of CILRAP, officially left his position after ten notable years of service. Nelu Burcea, director of the General Conference Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department, together with Associate Director Ellie Henry, honored Graz's pioneering work in establishing CILRAP as a leading voice for religious freedom. Mário Brito was introduced as the new CILRAP director, signaling a new chapter for the organization. Ruben Abreu, executive secretary of the Inter-European Division, represented the Division at this historic moment.
A special recognition was also given by the International Association for the Defence of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) secretary-general, Paulo Macedo, to AIDLR Italy, represented by Davide Romano and Francesca Evangelisti, for the exceptional quality of their magazine Coscienza e Libertà. Ganoune Diop received the Bert Beach Award for his global leadership in religious liberty advocacy.
Sunday morning continued the tradition of the Human Rights Walk, as participants journeyed from Geneva's religious heritage sites to the Collonges campus. The walk concluded with a reception and concert, culminating in the reading of the 18 Commitments of Faith for Rights—a powerful affirmation of the commitment of faith communities to upholding human rights principles.
This special edition of the Human Rights Weekend—jointly organized by CILRAP, the Faculté Adventiste de Collonges, and AIDLR—demonstrated the enduring commitment to defending freedom of conscience and religion for all people, honoring both legacy and future leadership in this vital cause.
