10 October 2026

European and World Day against the death penalty


 

On the occasion of the European and World Day Against the Death penalty, the Council of Europe firmly reaffirms its unequivocal opposition to the death penalty.

In 2026, this day is dedicated to the stories of persons affected by the death penalty and their families, highlighting the importance of taking into account the structural, social and individual conditions that may contribute to a person being sentenced to death and which are documented as disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. 
 

  • The Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a joint statement in which they strongly reaffirm their unequivocal opposition to the death penalty, including any reintroduction of it, in all cases and in all circumstances. The Joint statement is also available in: French (Français). 
  • The Ministers’ Deputies engaged in a discussion on the abolition of the death penalty, and adopted a set of decisions in view of the European and World Day, reiterating their strong opposition to the death penalty, including any reintroduction of it, in all places and in all circumstances, and advocating for its universal abolition. The decisions inter alia welcome the theme of the World Day, and recall that this theme also underscores the severe psychological and physical suffering caused by prolonged death row incarceration, which has long been considered contrary to the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. The Secretary General delivered an introductory speech that is accessible here.
  • The General Rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ms Gala Veldhoen published a statement, in which she inter alia condemns the recent alarming developments as well as the global rise in executions, and pledges to continue fighting against the death penalty in all circumstances and all places, and to raise awareness on its devastating effects on individuals, families and societies

 On the occasion of the European and World Day against the death penalty, the Council of Europe is also organising on 12 October in Vilnius, Lithuania, a round table on the abolition of the death penalty with a focus on the situation in Belarus. This will mark the first event under the auspices of the Council of Europe Information Point for Belarusian People. During this event, a new website on the history of the death penalty in Minsk will be launched. This project has was initiated following a workshop dedicated to young people from Belarus which was organised by the Council of Europe in 2024. These events and the website are part of the activities under the Council of Europe Contact Group on Cooperation with Belarusian Democratic Forces and Civil Society.

Since the 4th Council of Europe Summit of Heads of State and Governments, held in May 2023 in Reykjavik, whose guidance was confirmed by Foreign Ministers in 2024, the Council of Europe has undertaken several actions “to strengthen initiatives to counter pro-death penalty narratives in Europe and contribute to global abolition." 

For example, it has launched a series of workshops entitled "Death is not Justice – youth advocacy and awareness-raising for the abolition of the death penalty", with the aim of setting up a network of young ambassadors to fight for the abolition across Europe and the world. The network was presented at the last World Congress against the Death Penalty, which was held in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2026, and associated to a lot of sessions throughout the Congress. The Youth Ambassadors prepared for the third time a declaration on the occasion of the European and World Day. Some of them are also conducting specific actions to promote the abolition.

 

In addition, several recent Council of Europe initiatives related to the death penalty can be used to promote the abolition of the death penalty:

  • A New study on the history teaching of capital punishment : this study, which was published last June and carried out by the Council of Europe’s Observatory on history teaching in Europe (OHTE) is the first examination of how the history of the abolition of capital punishment is taught across Europe. It examines whether education systems could be providing a stronger foundation for supporting abolition, and finds that although examples of capital punishment are widely taught, the reasons for its abolition are often absent.
  • The report dedicated to abolitionist de facto countries entitled "Between retention and abolition: making sense of a death penalty without executions" : this report was launched in 2025 on the margins of a United Nations Human Rights Council session, presented to the Committee of Ministers on 7 October 2026 and will also be presented on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly this fall.
  • Our HELP module on the Abolition of the death penalty has been available in English and French since 2025 ! A version in Arabic language is under preparation.
  • The Committee of Ministers adopted a set of decisions dealing with the follow-up to the report of the Steering Committee on Human Rights on the examination of the implementation of Recommendation Rec(2021)2 on measures against the trade in goods used for the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. More information.