Abolition of the death penalty

On the occasion of the World Day against the Death Penalty, the Council of Europe is pleased to announce the launch of a cooperation project on the abolition of the death penalty in Morocco.

This project will be implemented by the Moroccan Conseil National des Droits de l’Homme (CNDH) and the General Directorate for Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, through the Coordinator for the Abolition of the Death Penalty supported by the Council of Europe Office in Rabat.

A declaration of intent was published after a meeting held on 9 October 2025 in Rabat between the Chair of the Moroccan CNDH, Ms Amina Bouayach, and a Council of Europe delegation composed of Ms Clare Ovey, Director for Human Rights, Ms Gala Veldhoen, PACE General Rapporteur on the Abolition of the Death Penalty, and Mr Sébastien Potaufeu, Coordinator for the Abolition of the Death Penalty.

The cooperation project will be implemented in connection with all interested stakeholders, including representatives from civil society and parliamentarians. It will target inter alia young people, including through the organisation of advocacy workshops on the abolition of the death penalty for young people from Morocco, who will subsequently be able to join the network of young Ambassadors against the death penalty on which the Council of Europe has been working. Awareness-raising could also be conducted for other stakeholders, particularly in the Judiciary.

Déclaration d’intention relative à la coopération entre le Conseil National des Droits de l’Homme du Maroc et le Conseil de l’Europe sur la thématique de l’abolition de la peine de mort au Maroc