The European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe have jointly reaffirmed their firm opposition to the death penalty on the occasion of the European and World Day Against the Death Penalty. In a strongly worded statement, both bodies described capital punishment as an inhuman and degrading practice that constitutes the ultimate violation of human dignity.
Highlighting global progress, the organizations noted that more than two-thirds of the world’s nations have either abolished the death penalty in law or ceased its use in practice. In 2023, the number of countries carrying out executions reached a historic low, marking a significant step towards a global abolition movement.
Despite this positive trend, certain nations, including China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the United States, continue to carry out executions, with Iran accounting for 74% of all reported executions last year. The EU and the Council of Europe also expressed concern about the use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution in the U.S. and noted that Belarus remains the only European country still enforcing the death penalty.
Addressing common justifications for capital punishment, the statement refuted claims that it serves as a deterrent to crime. They stressed that there is little to no evidence supporting such claims and that the practice often results in irreversible miscarriages of justice without improving public safety.
Both the EU and the Council of Europe reiterated their commitment to intensifying efforts to challenge pro-death penalty narratives and to work towards its complete abolition worldwide. They also highlighted the importance of involving youth and civil society in the global movement to eliminate capital punishment.
REPORTER: AMA MARCUS, ADBN NEWS.