Launch of a New Practical Guide on How to Prevent a Return to the Death Penalty

Advocacy

By Anti Death Penalty Asia Network and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 10 July 2025

The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP), in partnership with members and allies who have worked on preventing the return of the death penalty, has published a new how-to guide for civil society organizations (CSOs) on how to react in the face of a risk of a return to the death penalty.

Live Launch in Manila, the Philippines

The launch of the practical guide was held on 6 June 2025 during a keynote dinner hosted by the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) with the theme Hope, Justice, and Solidarity: Working Together against the Death Penalty in the Asia-Pacific. The dinner celebrated the continuing success story of Mary Jane Veloso who was repatriated by the Indonesian government to the Philippines, saving her from execution in December 2024. Her mother, Celia Veloso, represented Mary Jane during the occasion. Her counsel, Attorney Edre Olalia was the keynote speaker whose reflections on the case were described as a long-awaited milestone with an expression of hope for a presidential pardon.

The guide’s launch was led by WCADP President Matthew Goldberg, WCADP Vice President and ADPAN Convenor Karen Gomez-Dumpit with WCADP Executive Director Aurelie Placais who thanked the individuals who contributed to its production before an audience composed of advocates and special guests from the diplomatic community including Dr. Ana Isabel Sanchez Ruiz, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to the Philippines.    

The guide was handed to Philippines House Representative – elect Leila de Lima in a symbolic gesture in her role as a legislator to guard against a possible return of capital punishment in the Philippines. 

Methodology

Elaborated during the second and final phase of the “Countries at Risk” project (2018-2024), the objective of this guide is to provide advice to enable members and partners to effectively advocate against a possible return to the death penalty within their countries. 

During the six years the campaign was in place, many strategies and lessons were learned on what it takes to prevent a return to capital punishment. During a meeting in Malaysia of project members in July 2023, the strategies previously identified were shared, debated and built upon. The purpose was to identify strategies that were effective nationally and that could serve as models or inspiration in other national and regional contexts where the death penalty may return. Those lessons have been compiled to create this guide. 

Photo: Guide’s live launch in Manila, the Philippines on 6 June 2025. Credit to the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

This guide is part of a series of How-To advocacy manuals. Also available in the series are the following:

How to Work with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

How to Work with Parliamentarians for the Abolition of the Death Penalty

How to Work with National Human Rights Institutions to Abolish the Death Penalty