European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October 2017

Background and further information:

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 statement adopted in 2017 underlines the two organisations’ firm opposition to capital punishment in any circumstances. It also calls on countries still using the death penalty to commute any existing sentences and to introduce a moratorium on capital punishment as a first step towards abolition.The Council of Europe and the European Union's EEAS published on 10 October 2017 a joint statement to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty.

• Primary Source

Council of the European Union: Joint Declaration by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the European and World Day against the Death Penalty http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/10/09-hr-joint-declaration-death-penalty/

United Nations: News Centre, 10.10.17: 'The death penalty has no place in the 21st century' – UN chief Guterres https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57848

France: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: World Day Against the Death Penalty (10 October 2017) http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/human-rights/death-penalty/events/article/human-rights-world-day-against-the-death-penalty-10-10-17

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