5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty

Abolition

By Thomas Hubert & Tiziana Trotta, on 27 June 2013

• Final declaration by the participants in the 5th World Congress against the Death Penalty
• Resolution by the Core Group of countries supporting the World Congress against the Death Penalty
• Call for the creation of national parliamentary networks against the death penalty (in French)

The World Coalition and its members have taken part in the preparation of the Congress’s academic programme. Read more below about key issues debated by the participants.

Frontline regions in the fight against the death penalty:

• Asian progress paves the way for new strategies
• North Africa and Middle East between progress and frustrations
• Tackling resistance to abolition in Africa
• European Union regrets difficulties in dialogue with Belarus

Video testimonies from around the world:

• “Love and compassion” rather than the death penalty – Murder victim’s grandson
• India executions are politically motivated – Navkiran Singh
• UN rapporteur alarmed by death penalty situation in Iran
• Belarusian activist Valentin Stefanovic

Focus on defence lawyers:

• Chinese lawyers hailed as “heroes for justice”
• New defense manual to help lawyers in capital cases worldwide
• Call for world lawyers to unite against the death penalty

Strategies and tactics to further the abolitionist cause:

• Shedding light on judicial blunders can help achieve abolition
• Linking the death penalty and torture to achieve abolition
• After abolition: what alternative to the death penalty?
• Small progress against the execution of minors
• Two perspectives on assistance to foreign nationals facing the death penalty
• NGOs: how to work with international bodies?
• Teaching abolition: educational resources

During the Congress, the World Coalition also elected new decision-making bodies.

The 5th World Congress was organised by the French association Ensemble contre la peine de mort (Together Against the Death Penalty – ECPM) under the sponsorship of Spain, Norway, Switzerland and France and in partnership with the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
The 5th World Congress against the Death Penalty was also financially supported by the European Union, the International Organization of the Francophonie, the Governments of Germany, Sweden, Australia, Argentina and Luxembourg, the Principality of Monaco, the Paris Bar-Solidarity Fund and the Ile de France region.