The Council of Europe in collaboration with the NGO “Together against the death penalty” (ECPM) held the workshop “Death is not justice – advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty” on 2-3 June 2023. The workshop was hosted by the European Youth Center in Strasbourg and was organized within the framework of the co-operation project “Death is not Justice: Abolition of the Death Penalty in Europe and Beyond”, financed by a voluntary contribution of France against the background of the resurgence of the debates on the reintroduction of the death penalty in Europe.

The aim of the workshop was to show young citizens the ways to counter the narrative on the restoration of the death penalty, and present Europe’s path to the full abolition of death penalty, as well as the key role of the Council of Europe and the caselaw of the European Court of Human Rights in it. Over the two days of the workshop the participants had an opportunity to learn about the history of the abolition of the death penalty in Europe and the world; they got equipped with communication and public outreach skills, which would help to build advocacy campaigns to prevent the resurgence of the capital punishment.

The workshop brought together 40 young volunteers, students and active members of civil society aged from 18 to 30 years from across Europe.

The event was opened by Mr Christos Giakoumopoulos, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, and Ambassador Marie Fontanel, Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe.