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.
European and World Day against the Death Penalty: joint statement by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the High Representative of the European Union
A statement by Secretary General Alain Berset and High Representative Kaja Kallas on European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October 2026 The European Union and the Council of Europe are unequivocally opposed to the death penalty, in all cases and in all circumstances. Progress...
Exchange of views of the Committee of Ministers with civil society on the abolition of the death penalty ahead of the World and European Day against the Death penalty
A thematic discussion on the abolition of the death penalty took place on 7 October 2026 during the 1571st meeting of the Council of Europe Ministers’ Deputies of the Council of Europe, chaired by the Principality of Monaco. The Deputies had the opportunity to exchange views with external...
2026 Václav Havel Prize awarded to Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh
The fourteenth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh. The prize was presented at a special ceremony on the opening day of the autumn plenary session of the...
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....
© 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
Coordinator for the Abolition of the death penalty
Mr Sebastien Potaufeu