The European Commission has put forward a proposal for 10 October as the date for European Day against the Death Penalty in a draft Joint Declaration to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, to be adopted together with the Council of Europe. By establishing an officially recognised European Day, the Commission aims to raise awareness as well as set an example to the rest of the world.

Over half the world's countries have put an end to capital punishment in either law or practice with 10 retaining it only for exceptional crimes such as those carried out in war and 30 preserving it in law but having a 10 year record of not putting it into practice. However, there remains the other half. Last year, 3,861 people were sentenced to death in 55 countries around the world, with 1,591 executions carried out in 25 countries. "The death penalty is a violation of the most fundamental of human rights, namely the right to life," said Franco Frattini, EU Vice-President and Commissioner responsible for Freedom, Security and Justice, "Nothing justifies the death penalty."

Abolition of the death penalty is a condition of membership in either the Council of Europe or the European Union and it is 10 years since it was last used anywhere within the Council of Europe's 47 member countries. It is prohibited under both the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights and the EU is working constantly to promote abolition around the world, putting pressure on retentionist countries. "We Europeans are the number one advocate against the death penalty and for its universal abolition," said Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, "And we will not rest until the death penalty becomes history in every country of the world."

If successful, the Joint Declaration will be signed by the European Parliament, the EU Presidency, the European Commission and the Council of Europe at the International Conference in Lisbon on 9 October 2007.

Walueurope
09 July 2007

Photo: Vice-President Frattini speaks in Berlin, 2007 (Europa)