Unveiling the European and World Day against the Death Penalty sheds light on the inhumane nature of this practice, signifying a blatant disregard for human dignity. Both the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe staunchly oppose the death penalty, advocating for its complete abolition under any circumstances.
Encouragingly, there is a global shift towards the eradication of the death penalty, with over two-thirds of countries either abolishing it in law or practice. However, certain nations like China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the USA still carry out executions, with Iran alone accountable for a majority of recorded cases. The use of controversial methods like nitrogen hypoxia in the US raises significant concerns.
The argument that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to crime lacks substantial evidence. Far from enhancing safety, capital punishment increases the risk of irreversible miscarriages of justice. The EU and the Council of Europe are dedicated to combating narratives supporting the death penalty’s revival and promoting its complete abolition globally.
The time has come to bid farewell to this archaic practice and embrace a future devoid of such barbarism.