The Council of Europe actively took part in the 9th World Congress against the death penalty
The 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, organized by Together Against the Death Penalty (Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort - ECPM) in Paris, took place from June 30 to July 2, 2026. It brought together around 1,300 people from about a hundred different nationalities. It was the first...
Council of Europe draws attention to the death penalty in Belarus at World Congress in Paris
The Council of Europe has consistently opposed the death penalty, everywhere and under all circumstances, seeking its universal abolition, as reiterated by the Secretary General, Alain Berset, at the opening of the 9th World Congress against the death penalty in Paris earlier this week. This...
President of ECHR's speech at 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris
On the opening day of the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty – being held in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2026 and organised by the Together Against the Death Penalty association under the sponsorship of France, the European Union and Switzerland –, at which the President of the...
General Rapporteur on the death penalty: ‘Abolition can never be taken for granted’
Although more than two‑thirds of the world’s states no longer execute prisoners, “recent developments remind us that progress is not irreversible, and that abolition can never be taken for granted,” said PACE General Rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty Gala Veldhoen (Netherlands,...
“Everywhere. Under all circumstances” – Secretary General Berset on death-penalty abolition
Alain Berset in Paris. No executions have been carried out in Council of Europe member countries since 1997 | © Christophe Meireis Secretary General Alain Berset has described the abolition of the death penalty as one of the greatest achievements of the Council of Europe. Speaking at the World...
Young Europeans are not learning enough about why the death penalty was abolished
via Council of Europe website Europe is undergoing a resurgence in pro-death-penalty rhetoric, undermining core European values such as human dignity and the right to life. A newly released study examines whether education systems could be providing a stronger foundation for supporting abolition....
National Closing Day of the Project Aiming to Broaden the Base of Young Moroccans in Favor of the Abolition of the Death Penalty
On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty on October 10, 2025, the Council of Europe and the Moroccan National Human Rights Council (CNDH) launched a cooperation project on the theme of the abolition of the death penalty in Morocco, notably marking their intention to specifically...
Debate on the universal Abolition of the Death Penalty at the Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
During its April 2026 plenary session, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) held a debate on the universal abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances. As recalled by the PACE General Rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty, Ms. Gala Veldhoen, this notably...
© Salsabila Lalienne, Laureate of the 5th international competition “Draw me abolition” organised by ECPM and the International Education Network on Abolition
www.coe.int/abolition
Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law
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Coordinator for the Abolition of the death penalty
Mr Sebastien Potaufeu