<p>The European Parliament is strongly opposed to the death penalty, a position it has expressed repeatedly in various resolutions, for example in its December 2018 resolution on the annual EU report on human rights and democracy in the world in 2017.</p>

<p>While most countries in the world have abolished capital punishment, death sentences continue to be handed down and carried out in a number of countries. The Union uses its diplomatic and political weight to encourage these countries to join the abolitionist ranks, or at the very least to respect international minimum standards. It funds campaigns to increase awareness of the need to end capital punishment, and restricts trade in substances that could be used for executions.</p>

Death penalty

Cities for life day: International day against death penalty - Green illumination of the EP Headquarters building in Brussels

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

International Day against death penalty - Illumination of the EP Headquarters buildings in Brussels

EP Press conference on Death penalty

7th World Congress Against the Death Penalty- Family picture

7th World Congress Against the Death Penalty

The EP buildings in Brussels are illuminated in green on the occasion of the World Day of the Cities for Life against the death penalty. On November 30 1786, Tuscany was the first civil state in the world to do away with torture and capital punishment.

Cities for life day: International day against death penalty, green illumination of the EP buildings

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, notably the cases of Mustafa Hashem al-Darwish and Abdullah al-Howaiti. Closing statement by Mairead McGUINNESS, European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability, and Capital Markets Union.

The death penalty's cases of Mustafa Hashem al-Darwish and Abdullah al-Howaiti in Saudi Arabia

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 March 2021), MEPs debate with the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta URPILAINEN, on the human rights situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in particular the cases of death row inmates and human rights defenders.

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: The human rights situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in particular the cases of death row inmates and human rights defenders

Lighting the European Parliament building in Green on behalf of Cities Against the Death Penalty

Cities Against the Death Penalty - Lighting the European Parliament building in Green

In the European Parliament in Brussels, David SASSOLI, EP President, gives a statement on the occasion of the World Day against the Death Penalty.

World Day against the Death Penalty: statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

Pavel TELIČKA (ALDE, CZ), EP Vice-President, Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, Didier REYNDERS, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, participate in the 7th World Congress against the death penalty, organised from February 26th to the 1st of March 2019 in the European Parliament in Brussels.

7th World Congress against the death penalty: extracts from the opening statements

Raphaël CHENUIL-HAZAN, ECPM ("Ensemble contre la peine de Mort") - Aminata NIAKATE, ECPM - Video Message of His Holiness Pope Francis - Family photo

7th World Congress Against The Death Penalty - High-Level Conference: opening ceremony with Raphaël CHENUIL-HAZAN, ECPM ("Ensemble contre la peine de Mort"), Aminata NIAKATE, ECPM and a Video Message of His Holiness Pope Francis

opening ceremony with - Pavel TELIČKA (ALDE,CZ), EP Vice-President - Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC -

7th World Congress Against The Death Penalty - High-Level Conference: opening ceremony with Pavel TELIČKA (ALDE,CZ), EP Vice-President, Federica MOGHERINI, HR of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EC Vice-President

Didier REYNDERS, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Pascale BAERISWYL, State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Audun HALVORSEN, State Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

7th World Congress Against The Death Penalty - High-Level Conference: opening ceremony with Didier REYNDERS, Pascale BAERISWYL and Audun HALVORSEN

Pavel TELIČKA (ALDE, CZ), EP Vice-President, Didier REYNDERS, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Richard SEDILLOT, ECPM Spokesperson and attorney of Serge Atlaoui, French citizen condemned to death in Indonesia, Susan KIGULA, former death row prisoner (Uganda), Jerry GIVENS, former executioner, abolitionist activist (USA), speak to the press on death penalty.

Press conference on death penalty by Pavel TELIČKA (ALDE,CZ), EP Vice-President, Didier REYNDERS, Richard SEDILLOT, Susan KIGULA and Jerry GIVENS

Lex Signing ceremony in the presence of Martin SCHULZ, EP President and Ivan KORČOK, Slovak Presidency, during the EP plenary session (21-24/11) in Strasbourg.

Lex Signing ceremony in the presence of Martin SCHULZ, EP President  and Ivan KORČOK, Slovak Presidency

During the EP Plenary session (03-06/10) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on Trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other treatment or punishment. Statements by Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), rapporteur, Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, Barbara LOCHBIHLER (Greens/EFA, DE), rapporteur, Santiago FISAS AYXEL&Agrave; (EPP, ES), Inmaculada RODR&Iacute;GUEZ-PI&Ntilde;ERO FERN&Aacute;NDEZ (S&amp;D, ES) and Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT).

Trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other treatment or punishment: extracts from the debate

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Statements on "Ibrahim Halawa potentially facing the death penalty" by Ignazio CORRAO (EFDD, IT), Mark DEMESMAEKER (ECR, BE), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), and Lynn BOYLAN (GUE/NGL, IE). Statements on Situation in the Maldives by Gerard DEPREZ (ALDE, BE), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), and Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE/NGL, FR). Statements on Malaysia by Barbara LOCHBIHLER (Greens/EFA, DE),and Cecilia WIKSTROM (ALDE, SE)

Cases of breaches of human rights: extracts from the debates on Ibrahim Halawa potentially facing the death penalty - Situation in the Maldives - Malaysia

Meeting of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) on trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in the EP in Brussels. Vote&nbsp;on the report&nbsp;&nbsp;by Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE,NL) , rapporteur

Trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: extracts from the vote on the report by Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE,NL) , rapporteur

Opening remarks by Martin SCHULZ, EP President during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. The EP President addressed the earthquake in Nepal, last week's refugee catastrophe in the Mediterranean, as well as the death penalty pending on imprisoned foreigners in Indonesia, of which one is a French citizen. Schulz has asked Indonesia to go back to a moratorium on the death penalty in the country. Minutes of silence where held for the victims of both catastrophes.

Opening remarks by Martin SCHULZ, EP President: earthquake in Nepal - tragedy in the Mediterranean - death penalty in Indonesia

The SubCommitte for Human Rights (DROI), exchange of views with Mohammad Mostafaei, lawyer of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Human rights in Iran: extracts of the exchange of views with Mohammad Mostafaei, lawyer of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani

The Sub-Committee on Human Rights (DROI) holds a public hearing on the death penalty in view of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Death penalty: extracts from the public hearing

MEPs debate the death penalty ahead of the International Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

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