On European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the European Union and the Council of Europe firmly reiterate their unequivocal opposition to the death penalty at all times, in all places and in all circumstances.

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances. We commend all those Council of Europe Member States (including all of the EU Member States) that have abolished the death penalty in all circumstances and we call on the last two Member States of the Council of Europe that have not yet acceded to this Protocol – Armenia and Azerbaijan – to do so without delay.

 The death penalty is an inhuman and degrading treatment, contrary to human dignity. It does not serve as a deterrent to crime. No legal system is safe from judicial errors, which may lead to the loss of innocent lives. We will not stop advocating until the death sentence is no longer applied.

  Joint Declaration by the Council of Europe Secretary General and EU High Representative

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