FIDH to participate in the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, from 21 to 23 June.
The 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty is being organised by ECPM (Ensemble contre la peine de mort), in partnership with the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty to bring together abolitionists and create new strategies for universal abolition. Some 1,300 participants from over 80 countries are expected to attend.
Since 2001, the World Congress has become a major abolitionist event. Over the course of three days, members of international civil society, political and legal groups will meet to develop abolition strategies for the national, regional and international arenas, and tell and retell the world about the importance of universal abolition for a just and progressive world.
Despite the fact that the concept of universal abolition is growing, with an increasing number of countries abolishing the death penalty either in legal or practical terms since the 1980s, the anti-terrorist laws of the last decade have increased its field of application. Legislation concerning crimes of terrorism subject to the death penalty is often ill-defined. In 2015, 1,634 executions were recorded in 25 countries, most notably in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran, and 1,998 persons were sentenced to death in 61 countries. These numbers represent a 25-year record. However, it does not include persons who are living with a death sentence and those actually executed in China, since that country does not publish data on death penalties, yet it is widely considered to be the most oppressive in the world.
FIDH is firmly opposed to the death penalty for any crime. The application of this sentence, issued after trials that are often unfair, is often discriminatory and its effectiveness as a preventative measure, has never been proven. FIDH is working with its member organisations for universal abolition.
To learn more about the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty
Download our book co-written with our member organisation in Belarus, Viasna :"The Death Penalty in Belarus"
Videos of our member organisation in Belarus :
– Video 1
– Video 2
– Video 3
– Video 4
– Video 5
– Video 6
Download the report on the death penalty in Thailand: "Justice in Thailand’s South?"
Download the report: "The Death Penalty in Vietnam"
Download the flyer: "SIDE EVENT - Death Penalty in Belarus"
Download the Final Declaration of the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty