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World Day13th World Day Against the Death Penalty: Drug Crimes
On 10 October 2015, the 13th World Day Against the Death Penalty is raising awareness around the application of the death penalty for drug-related offences, to reduce its use.
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Running against the abolitionist worldwide movement, many countries added the death penalty for drug crimes in their legal sustem between 1980 and 2000. This trend is going down today, however, in somes countries, drug crimes are the main cause of death sentences and executions.
New tool on how to answer the deterrence argument!
> Read it here
> Use it in your events and media contacts
Take online actions now!
> Organising an event for October 10? Tell us all about it and we will promote it on our Calendar of events! (Please send us: event title, date, time, location, short description and a web link to the event)
> Share the Facebook event!
> Join the social media campaign
> Get in touch with local drug policy reform and harm reduction civil society to meet on World Day
> Sign petitions to release people sentenced to death in Malaysia
> If you are based in Europe, contact your government and ask them to release information about the UNODC programs they are funding (ask for the memo prepared by Reprieve)
> Publish joint statements, articles and contact local media (see the mobilisation kit for advice)
The death penalty in practice:
• 100 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes
• 6 countries have abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes
• 34 countries are abolitionist in practice
• 58 countries and territories are retentionist
• 22 countries carried out executions in 2014
• 33 countries and territories retain the death penalty for drug crimes:
o 13 of the 33 countries have carried out an execution for drug crimes in the past five years
o 12 of the 33 countries retain a mandatory death penalty for certain categories of drug crimes
o 5 of the 33 countries are abolitionist in practice
Source: Talking Drugs
To know more about the death penalty...
... all over the world: read the facts & figures
... and drug crimes: read the leaflet, the detailed factsheet and Harm Reduction International's reports
Take action to stop crime, not lives:
1. Organize a public debate and a movie screening with exonerees, murder victim’s families, experts, to raise awareness on the reality of the death penalty
2. Organize an art exhibition (photo, drawings, posters) or a theatre performance from Dead Man Walking to Victor Hugo
3. Organize a demonstration, a sit-in, a ‘die-in,’ a flash mob
4. Join the events prepared for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide
5. Support urgent appeals and take part in social media action in the lead up to 10 October
6. Write to a prisoner on death row
7. Donate to the World Coalition against the Death Penalty or another group working to end the death penalty.
8. Follow the social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter: #nodeathpenalty
9. Mobilize the media to raise awareness on the issue of the death penalty
10. Participate in “Cities Against the Death Penalty/Cities for Life” on November 30, 2015
Call for initiatives
> On 10 October 2015, take action against the death penalty!
Join hundreds of initiatives organized worldwide
> Wherever you are
In Africa, America, Asia, Oceania or Europe
> Whoever you are
NGOS, teachers, lawyers, local representatives, parliamentarians, artists, reporters, religious leaders, citizens
> Whatever your plans are
Debates, concerts, press conferences, demonstrations, petitions, educational and cultural activities...
Get in touch with the World Coalition to tell us about events scheduled on October 10. -
World Day12th World Day Against the Death Penalty: Mental Health
On 10 October 2014, the 12th World Day Against the Death Penalty is drawing attention to people with mental health problems who are at risk of a death sentence or execution. While opposing the death penalty absolutely, abolitionists are also committed to see existing international human rights standards implemented. Among these is the requirement that persons with mental illness or intellectual disabilities should not face the death penalty.
Campaign published on May 21st, 2014 -
World Day11th World Day against the Death Penalty: Greater Caribbean
On 10 October 2013, the 11th World Day Against the Death Penalty is dedicated to the Greater Caribbean where few executions take place, but where a core of countries remain strongly opposed to abolition.
Campaign published on May 31st, 2013 -
World Day10th World Day against the Death Penalty
Significant progress to end the death penalty has been made over the past 10 years. Global momentum continues to build toward complete abolition, but work remains to be done to end capital punishment.
Campaign published on June 10th, 2012 -
World Day9th World Day Against the Death Penalty: the inhumanity of the death penalty
On 10 October 2011, the 9th World Day is to raise awareness on the inhumanity of the death penalty throughout the entire process, from sentence to execution.
Campaign published on June 10th, 2011 -
AsiaThe death penalty for drugs: a central point during the regional congress
In Asia, death penalty for drug offences is one of the major issues. During the regional congress, two sessions addressed this issue. It is also the theme of this years’ World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October 2015.
Article by Lauranne Mailhabiau published on June 23rd, 2015 -
World Day8th World Day Against the Death Penalty: USA
On 10 October 2010, the 8th World Day Against the Death Penalty is dedicated to the USA which executed 52 people and handed down 106 death sentences in 2009.
Article by Aurélie Plaçais published on May 10th, 2010 -
World Day7th World Day Against the Death Penalty: teaching abolition
On 10 October 2009, World Day Against the Death Penalty, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty wishes to teach abolition to all citizens around the world, especially to teenagers aged 14 to 18.
Article by Aurélie Plaçais published on July 27th, 2009 -
World Day6th World Day Against the Death Penalty: open your eyes on Asia
On 10 October 2008, World Day Against the Death Penalty, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty calls on all citizens around the world to take action to end executions in Asia.
Article by Aurélie Plaçais published on August 04th, 2008 -
World Day5th World Day against the death penalty: the world decides!
On October 10th, 2007, the World Day against the Death Penalty focussed on the proposed UN General Assembly resolution for a universal moratorium on executions. The proposal would save lives and give the population of retentionist states an opportunity to see for themselves that a pause in death sentences does not lead to higher crime rates.
Article by Thomas Hubert published on June 29th, 2007 -
VideoDamon Barrett (HRI): "big problem" between drug enforcement and the death penalty
Damon Barrett of Harm Reduction International speaks at a side event on the death penalty for drug crimes on the occasion of the 56th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs on 12 March 2013.
Video published on March 15th, 2013 -
World DayCalendar of events for World Day 2015
Browse the schedule and the map to prepare and promote the events planned around the world on the big day.
Article by World Coalition Against the Death Penalty published on September 15th, 2015
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- Attached documents
- Poster - 13th Wold Day against the death penalty | English |
- Leaflet - 13th World Day | English |
- Facts And Figures 2015 | English |
- Detailed Fact Sheet - Death Penalty and Drug Crimes | English |
- Mobilisation Kit | English |
- 2014 World Day Report | English |
- Q&A: The Death Penalty and Drug Offenses | English |
- Social Media Toolkit | English |
- How to answer the deterrence argument | English |
- Focus on
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World Day
16th World Day Against the Death Penalty: Living conditions on death row
On 10 October 2018, the 16th World Day Against the Death Penalty aims at raising awareness on the inhumane living conditions of people sentenced to death.
