Algeria
Egypt
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Palestine *
Syria *
TunisiaWorld Day against the Death Penalty: Joint Declaration by the High Representative of the European Union and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
On the World and European Day Against the Death Penalty, the European Union and the Council of Europe reaffirm their opposition to the use of capital punishment in all circumstances and call for the universal abolition of the death penalty.
We welcome the continued decline in the use of the death penalty, confirming the overall trend towards universal abolition. In 2019, for a second consecutive year, executions were carried out in only 20 countries around the world. This is a historic low, but it is nonetheless 20 countries too many. We, therefore, use this occasion to call on all Members of the United Nations to support the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in December 2020.
The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty has dedicated this year to the right to effective legal representation. The violation of this fundamental right disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of society, who cannot afford experienced lawyers or who may not be familiar with the legal system. It is essential that justice systems provide resources to prepare an effective defence, including accurate translation and interpretation services if needed.
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Countries covered:
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Algeria
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Egypt
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Israel
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Jordan
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Lebanon
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Libya
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Morocco
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Palestine *
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Syria *
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Tunisia
