United Nations – World Day against the Death Penalty (Oct.10, 2022)

On the 20th World Day against the Death Penalty, France reiterates its firm opposition to the death penalty everywhere and in all circumstances.

It welcomes the momentum of the abolitionist movement, which two States joined this year, but deplores the fact that this cruel, unjust, inhuman punishment still continues to be applied in several States. France calls on them to observe a moratorium with a view to the permanent abolition of the death penalty. It calls on all States to sign and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.

France encourages all States to support the United Nations General Assembly’s biennial resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty, which was adopted by a historic 123 States in 2020 and will be presented again this year.

France will continue its fight for the universal abolition of the death penalty at the 8th World Congress against the Death Penalty, which Together against the Death Penalty is organizing in Berlin from 15 to 18 November 2022.