PRI statement on World Day Against the Death Penalty
PRI statement on World Day Against the Death Penalty
(10 October 2011) Penal Reform International (PRI) uses the opportunity of the ninth World Day Against the Death Penalty to publish the “London Declaration”, adopted at the conference “Progressing toward abolition of the death penalty and alternative sanctions that respect international human rights standards” on 19 and 20 September.
“While it is gratifying that the world is moving closer to universal abolition, executions continue to take place and the death penalty is retained in almost all regions of the world,” states Alison Hannah, Executive Director of PRI.
“The death penalty has no place in civilised society and the World Day Against the Death Penalty is a golden opportunity for those states that still retain the death penalty to commit to establishing a moratorium on executions and to taking legal steps towards full abolition in law,” stresses Alison Hannah.
On 19 and 20 September, PRI had convened 100 experts from 31 countries in London to discuss global trends towards abolition of the death penalty at a conference, held at the European Commission’s Representation to the United Kingdom.
The conference was concluded with the adoption of the London Declaration, echoing the determination of the participants to move towards the abolition of the death penalty and the implementation of alternative sanctions that respect international human rights.
Also marking the international Day Against the Death Penalty, PRI’s Central Asia office will be hosting a students’ debate on the abolition of the death penalty followed by the screening of the film “No to the Death Penalty!” at the Kazakhstan Humanitarian & Juridical University in Astana. View event photos. and coverage on Kazakhstan national TV channel
Furthermore, PRI participated in a podcast on the abolition of the death penalty available through the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Chaired by the FCO’s Head of Human Rights Louise de Sousa, this podcast focuses on the theme of minimum standards on the use of the death penalty, as well as opportunities for future action on the death penalty. Participants include Professor Roger Hood from the University of Oxford, Baroness Vivien Stern, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Abolition of the Death Penalty, and Jacqueline Macalesher from Penal Reform International. You can listen to the podcast on the FCO website or via iTunes.
For more information on events to mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty please click here to visit the World Day calendar.