All about Switzerland

On 17 November, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a draft resolution calling upon UN Member States to observe a moratorium on executions.

On 5 November, a webinar gathering high-level panelists was held by Ensemble contre la peine de mort / Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) as one of their initiatives for the moratorium campaign. Usually organized in New York, USA on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the event had to be facilitated […]

The Declaration signed by 18 Foreign Ministers from different world regions, including several that are still on a path towards abolition of the death penalty, brings one common message: International support for abolition is continuing to grow, driven by an increasing awareness of the death penalty’s inherent risks and shortcomings.

Twelve governments from countries with and without capital punishment release a joint declaration calling for a world that “respects human dignity” on World Day Against the Death Penalty.

More than 20 ministers of justice met in Rome for the annual conference on the abolition of the death penalty organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio and heard harrowing testimonies from courageous activists.

The UN body in charge of defending and promoting human rights has devoted a large part of its 22nd session to discussing capital punishment and its abolition, and vowed to continue at its next meetings.

The Community of Sant’Egidio conducted a crucial political networking exercise in favour of abolition in Rome at the end of November before 1,600 cities lit up their monuments against the death penalty.

For the first time in nine years, the United Nations has participated in festivities marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty.

Powerful words by the speakers of the solemn ceremony that concluded the 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty gave hope to the participants as they prepared to head home.

A wide variety of abolitionist actors gathered in Geneva between February 24-26 for the 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty. After three days of working sessions, the participants called on abolitionist states and internatinonal institutions to support their efforts.

The US, Iran, China and Japan hold a strategic cultural or geographic position, but the road to abolition remains blocked in those countries.

The teenage nephews of an American death row inmate started an anti-death penalty organization that has grown into a pillar of the Texas abolitionist community.

Hundreds of participants to Geneva 2010 chose to display their commitment in favour of the abolition of the death penalty by having their photograph taken.

National political leaders, activists, representatives of international organisations and many others have made it: a wide variety of abolitionist actors are now gathered in Geneva for the 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty.

The 180 members of the public who had gathered to view the film Manners of dying had an opportunity to witness a discussion between Mumia Abu-Jamal and his lawyer Robert Bryan.

National political leaders, activists, representatives of international organisations and many others have made it: a wide variety of abolitionist actors are now gathered in Geneva for the 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty.

Representatives from 56 abolitionist and retentionist countries attended the opening session of the World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Geneva.

Juveniles and the mentally ill face a higher risk of falling victims to the death penalty. Abolitionists and activists defending their rights have teamed up to highlight this situation.

A former death row inmate and the grandson of a murder victim explain why compassion – not the death penalty – is the way to heal wounds.

The workshop on “Defining strategies for abolition” was an opportunity for abolitionists to share views and experience on what works – and what does not – when pushing for the repeal of the death penalty.

The first plenary session of the World Congress Against the Death Penalty focused on “increasing cooperation between States, NGOs and international organizations and developing common strategies for a death penalty-free world”.

Geneva’s Théâtre de la Comédie was filled to the seams Wednesday evening for the première of an adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel that plunges theatre goers into the mind of a man destined for the guillotine.

The programme of the World Congress Against the Death Penalty is intended to give abolitionists an opportunity to reflect on their joint actions, including campaigns coordinated by the World Coalition.

The largest global abolitionist event will take place in Geneva next February. Participants are invited to register as soon as possible.

During the past year, the 28 member associations in the FIACAT network have given their abolitionist activities a boost. The issue of the death penalty is at the heart of their mission.