One hundred and fourty-four countries and territories have abolished the death penalty either by law or in practice in 2018. Abolition is part of a universal trend.

The World Congress Against the Death Penalty, organised by ECPM (Together against the Death Penalty) from 26 February to 1 March, is the world’s leading abolitionist event, and brings together more than 1000 stakeholders from over 140 countries.

Among the goals of the congress are to:

• encourage the involvement in the international anti-death penalty movement
• Put in place a global strategy to move the last retentionist countries towards abolition
• Counter populist movements, make prgress in raising awareness about abolition and mae younger generations actors of change
• Break the isolation of civil society that works on a daily basis to abolish the death penalty in retentionist or moratorium countries by promoting networking

Background

The European Union and its member states oppose capital punishment and its abolition is an explicit requirement to join the EU.

The World Coatlition Against the Death Penalty is composed of more that 150 NGOs, bar associations, local authorities and trade unions. It was founded in Rome on 13 May 2002, the result of the commitment made by signatories of the Final Declaration of the First World Congress against the Death Penalty, organised by the Frensh association ECPM (Ensemble contre le peine de mort) in June 2001 in Strasbourg.

The World Coalition aims to strengthen the international dimension of the fight against the death penalty. Its ultimate objective is to achieve the unversal abolition of the death penalty. To this end, it supports the world of its member organisations and coordinates international advocacy for abolition.

The Coalition also designated 10 October as the World Day against the Death Penalty It is a partner of the World Congress against the Death Penalty, which takes place every three years.