Education

The abolition of the death penalty in Europe is a recent and fragile achievement. For young generations who have grown up in countries where it is abolished, this achievement can feel self-evident. Yet, it was the outcome of deliberate struggle. Learning about the history behind the abolition movement is key to understanding that human rights can only be secured through sustained commitment over time.
The mission of the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe (OHTE) is to provide a clear picture of how history is taught in its member states. With contributions from the Leibniz Institute for Educational Media | Georg Eckert Institute (GEI), the Council of Europe Coordinator for the abolition of the death penalty and the International Academic Network for the Abolition of Capital Punishment (REPECAP), this ad hoc study looks at the portrayal of the death penalty and its abolition in history education in the OHTE member states.

In the context of the ongoing international movements for the abolition of the death penalty, particularly the efforts of the Council of Europe towards achieving a death penalty-free zone in Europe, this study demonstrates the essential role of history education in reinforcing learners’ appreciation of human dignity, justice and equality.