Towards a Europe without the death penalty

The Council of Europe is proud to be the driving force behind the abolition of the death penalty in Europe. From our beginnings, we realised that human rights apply to everyone, and that even if someone commits a human rights abuse, it is our responsibility to deal with them according to our own principles – with firm punishment which at the same time respects their right to life. The 1983 Protocol enshrined this in international law for the first time, with countries pledging to respect the ban in times of peace. From these beginnings, the Council of Europe has succeeded in creating a death penalty-free zone, with no executions taking place in any of the 47 member countries since 1997.

 

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