PRI Central Asia debates the death penalty on European Day against the Death Penalty
ASTANA –KAZGUU together with the European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan, Embassies of Vatican, Switzerland and France, and the Representative office of Penal Reform International in Central Asia held a student debates dedicated to the European and World Day against Death Penalty.
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided on 26 September 2007, to declare a ”European Day against the Death Penalty,” which is held annually on 10 October. The Council of Europe has been a pioneer in the abolition process which has made Europe a de facto death-penalty-free zone since 1997. The day is a European contribution to the World Day against the Death Penalty, which is held annually on the same day.
As it was reiterated by the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, on the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October 2015, that “the Council of Europe and the European Union reaffirm their strong opposition to capital punishment. The death penalty is inhuman and degrading treatment, does not have any proven significant deterrent effect, and allows judicial errors to become irreversible and fatal.”
In Central Asia, legislatively death-penalty still exists only in two countries – Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The New Penal code of Republic of Kazakhstan restricts use of death penalty to 17 articles. Since 2003, there is indefinite moratorium on practice of death penalty in Kazakhstan.
Invitees of Students debates, includes the students, academia and diplomatic community of Astana, which is be held:
- Address, 8 Korgalzhyn highway; Astana
- Time and day: 16 October 2015 at 10:00
For additional information, please contact Project Assistant of Penal Reform International in Central Asia Bayan Nabidollanova, internpriastana@penalreform.org , call tel. + (7172) 798 884, 769 934 or Karlygash Dzhamankulova, Press Information Officer of the European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan, Karlygash.Jamankulova@eeas.europa.eu tel.+(7172) 97 11 48