The Council of Europe, in collaboration with civil society partners Ensemble contre la peine de mort (ECPM) and the German Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (GCADP), is holding the second edition of a workshop entitled "Death is not justice - advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty" in Strasbourg on 19-21 June.
The event will gather 50 young volunteers, students and active members of civil society, aged from 18 to 30, from across Europe. The participants were selected from some 300 applicants.
In line with the Reykjavik Summit Declaration and the decision taken by the Committee of Ministers last May, the workshop aims to combat pro-death penalty narratives by raising awareness among young people. It also seeks to establish a network of young ambassadors committed to advocating for the abolition of the death penalty by 2026.
Participants will take part in discussions with professionals on topics such as the current situation concerning the death penalty around the world as well as challenges and perspectives related to its abolition. They will also identify actions that they will conduct in the course of the year.
The workshop is supported financially by France and the Franco-German Youth Office. It forms part of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers and is supported by Portugal and Switzerland.
Most sessions will take place at the European Youth Centre, with one notable exception: a role play on a UN resolution calling for a universal moratorium will take place in the Committee of Ministers meeting room on Friday 21 June.
