02-07 June 2025
Objectives: To recruit, train and support future ambassadors on the universal abolition of the death penalty.
(Deadline for receipt of applications: 22 April 2025)
For the attention of young volunteers, students or active members of civil society, including participants of the previous editions of the workshop :
Are you between 18 and 30 years old?
Are you a citizen and/or living in one of the Council of Europe member states?
Are you a student of law, journalism, political science, communication, arts, education, humanities, or a civil society actor passionate about human rights?
You have a strong interest in human rights and want to get involved in a medium-term project with other young people in Europe for human rights and the abolition of the death penalty?
Do you speak English and/or French? (proficiency in one of the two official languages of the Council of Europe is essential for participation in this course).
Are you available from 02 to 07 June 2025 to travel to Strasbourg (France)?
We are offering you the opportunity to participate in an innovative experience involving young citizens who want to contribute in the process of the universal abolition of the death penalty.
Those who demonstrate a willingness and enthusiasm to be part of this project, in line with their higher education curriculum or their active involvement in civil society related to citizenship or fundamental rights issues, will be selected, subject to availability of places (50).
Participants to the workshop’s previous editions may apply. A specific course will be designed for them in parallel to the common core to enable them to strengthen some aspects of their training and further develop their advocacy actions.
If you would like to participate in this unique initiative and have the opportunity to:
- reinforce your theoretical knowledge on the subject (abolitionist arguments, current situation globally ...) and take part in abolitionist advocacy actions
- discover or deepen your understanding of advocacy and action methods (social networking, mobilising the public, networking etc.)
- collaborate with committed and creative students and young workers in Europe
- understand collaborative project construction techniques
- engage in an enriching human solidarity experience
- contribute to the Council of Europe's mission on of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law
- experience intercultural co-creation at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg
Send your application before 22 April 2025!
THE ORGANISERS
The rejection of the death penalty is one of the Council of Europe's founding principles: it is legally totally abolished in almost all member states, and no death penalty has been carried out in the geographical sphere of the Organisation for more than twenty years.
The abolition of capital punishment is a universal trend. Unfortunately, in 2024, 85 countries still practice it or uphold it in their legal texts.
No right, no democratic advance is ever acquired for ever. Human rights are the result of centuries of struggle by women and men for dignity. Their universality and respect depend on the capacity of each generation to appropriate and develop them. The death penalty is an attack on human dignity and justice. Its existence constitutes a serious attack on a universal culture of human rights everywhere. The resurgence of pro-death penalty narratives is disturbing and must be fought.
It is with the aim of creating a network of young ambassadors, who will continue the fight towards abolition throughout the world, that the Council of Europe, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort and the German Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (Initiative Gegen die Todesstrafe), with the support of the Permanent Representation of France to the Council of Europe, and the support of the Franco-German Office for Youth, are organising this training/meeting, based on an idea from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs with the financial support from France and Switzerland. This training event is thus intended to be repeated each year and to gradually expand in terms of both the number of participants and their geographical origin.
The Council of Europe and its 46 member states have been creating a death penalty-free zone for almost a quarter of a century, with the last execution on its territory taking place in 1997.
In the early 1980s, the Council of Europe became a pioneer in the abolition of capital punishment, considering it a serious violation of human rights. The organisation's Parliamentary Assembly gradually persuaded governments to help Europe become the first region in the world to ban the death penalty permanently. The ban on the death penalty has also become a precondition for membership since the 1990s.
In 1983, the Council of Europe adopted the first legally binding instrument providing for the unconditional abolition of the death penalty in peacetime: Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This text has been ratified by all 46 Member States.
In 2002, the Council of Europe adopted Protocol No. 13 to the ECHR concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances, i.e., also in times of war or imminent threat of war. Reservations and derogations from the Protocol are not possible. The Protocol entered into force on 1 July 2003. To date, it has been signed by 46 member States and ratified by 45 Member States.
ECPM (Ensemble contre la peine de mort Together against the death penalty– a non-governmental organisation established in France since 2000) works to combat the death penalty worldwide. The association promotes the universal abolition of the death penalty through advocacy programmes with public authorities, the strengthening of abolitionist civil society, the creation and dissemination of publications, and support for death row inmates and their families.
ECPM (www.ecpm.org) brings together abolitionists in order to increase their effectiveness and accelerate the movement towards universal abolition of the death penalty. The association is at the origin of the World Congresses against the death penalty, which it organises every three years (Strasbourg 2001, Montreal 2004, Paris 2007, Geneva 2010, Madrid in 2013, Oslo in 2016, Brussels in 2019,Berlin in 2022 and Paris in 2026) in the presence of several thousand abolitionists from all over the world (civil society, politicians, lawyers, journalists, artists, students, etc.).
ECPM develops programmes to support the strengthening of local partners in many non-abolitionist countries, mainly in the regions of: North Africa, Central Africa, Southeast Asia.
All the organisers place young people at the heart of their action, because they are essential actors of change for themselves and bearers of evolution for society. Through an inclusive and participatory approach, offering spaces for engagement, ECPM aims to enrich their knowledge on human rights and values related to global citizenship, so that they are better able to develop autonomous thinking and to mobilise themselves on these subjects, as active citizens guaranteeing the fundamental rights of tomorrow!
CONDITIONS :
- By submitting your application, you agree to participate in this project in its entirety (availability from 02 to 07 June 2025 –this includes travelling. The actual workshop days are 03-06 June 2025), on a voluntary basis (no remuneration will be provided).
- All travel and subsistence costs to Strasbourg, France for the course (transport from your hometown, accommodation, meals) will be fully covered by the organisers. Nevertheless, please contact the organisers for validation before incurring any expenses related to your visit or no refund will be made.
- No funding will be allocated for the implementation of the action to be carried out after the training.
- By submitting your application, you give up your image rights to the organisers for any audiovisual material produced by the organisers.
- Privacy: all the information you provide via this form will only be studied by the organisers and will not be passed on to third parties.
- If the majority of participants are unable to travel to the venue due to circumstances beyond the control of the organisers (health crisis, transport disruption, etc.), the course will have to be postponed.
HOW TO APPLY:
Complete the questionnaire on the online platform and attach (if possible) a link to a video (1-minute maximum) to briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your motivation! (optional but highly recommended).
Selected participants will be informed after 28 April 2025 by email.
The Council of Europe and its partners thank you for your interest in this project and hope that you will be part of the new generation of abolitionists who can play a decisive role in the development of a responsible and rights-based society.
The Council of Europe welcomes applications that fit the profile specified above, regardless of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.
