Penal Reform International hosts Lebanon Death Penalty Conference
On 17 December 2011 Penal Reform International hosted a conference entitled 'For practical legal alternatives' in Lebanon as part of its Death Penalty Abolition project.
The conference was a great success, and a number of high profile individuals opened the event, including: the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Mr Salim Al-Hoss, who urged the current government to take steps towards death penalty abolition in the country; the Minister of Justice, Mr. Chakib Cortbaoui; the Head of the Political Section of the Delegation of the European Union in Lebanon, Ms Elsa Fenet; and the former President of the Parliamentary Committee of Administration and Justice, Mr. Mkhayel Al-Daher.
The day-long conference was attended by 60 participants altogether, including the Head of the Court of Cassation, the Head of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, former and current parliamentarians, former ministers, civil society organisations and human rights activists, judges, lawyers, academics, and representatives from the Ministry of Education and the EU (Head of Political Section).
The conference focused on discussing alternatives to the death penalty, and the need to promote a non-violent culture to help reach abolition; it is a time when there is a need to promote dialogue and reconciliation, and avoid using the death penalty as a tool for revenge in the region. Participants urged the government to take steps towards abolition in an attempt to set an example for other Arab states.
The conference also included discussion of the importance of reviving the work of the Lebanese National Campaign Against Death Penalty, and to enhance the coordination between the different NGOs, political parties, activists who are supporting the abolition.
The conference concluded with a proposal to send a letter to the Lebanese parliament, supporting the step taken by its Human Rights Committee to include death penalty abolition in the National Lebanese Human Rights Strategy, urging the government to fulfill its commitments in its Universal Periodic Review report, and requesting that it review legislation and abolish the death penalty.
See below for the full agenda and recommendations from the day
