Belgium reaffirms its international management for a world with out the dying penalty | FPS Foreign Affairs

Ahead of the twenty third European and World Day Against the Death Penalty (10/10), the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a decision sponsored by Belgium on the difficulty of the dying penalty. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation Maxime Prévot welcomes this adoption.

This initiative, offered collectively with Benin, Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Mongolia, the Republic of Moldova and Switzerland, was supported by 31 international locations from 5 continents. This is a crucial second to spotlight the worldwide dedication towards the dying penalty. This initiative additionally demonstrates Belgium’s dynamism in favour of the safety and promotion of human rights.

Presented each two years, this decision goals to place the dying penalty on the high of the agenda by addressing it from a human rights perspective. Indeed, the dying penalty will not be solely a violation of the suitable to life itself, however its utility additionally raises an entire collection of questions referring to different human rights.

This yr, the theme highlighted within the decision is “equality of arms”, i.e. the suitable of each particular person to be defended in courtroom on an equal footing with the opposing social gathering. In explicit, the decision urges States to adjust to worldwide requirements guaranteeing the safety of the human rights of individuals going through the dying penalty, to make sure that all individuals are equal earlier than the courts and that the ensures of the suitable to a good trial and equality of arms are ensured for all events in dying penalty instances.

10 October 2025 will mark the twenty third European and World Day Against the Death Penalty. For the second consecutive yr, at the present time represents a vital alternative to fight the misperception that the dying penalty could make people and communities safer.

On the opposite, the dying penalty protects neither people nor societies: it threatens human dignity and reinforces social and financial disparities, disproportionately affecting marginalised teams.

On this worldwide day, Belgium calls on all stakeholders to hitch the worldwide abolitionist motion and to mobilise in assist of the decision for the common abolition of the dying penalty.

“The death penalty is not just a question of justice, it is a question of humanity. Every execution is a collective failure, a breach of what we hold most dear: human dignity. As Belgians, we firmly believe that no state should take the life of a human being, whatever the circumstances. I want to reiterate today, with force and with heart: a more just society is not built on fear or revenge, but on dignity, rehabilitation and hope,” mentioned Minister Maxime Prévot.

“The fight against the death penalty has long been a priority for our country, and Belgium’s commitment to abolishing the death penalty is not limited to a single day each year. It is a long-term effort on several fronts. Just recently, in February 2025, I took part in a round table discussion on the death penalty at the Human Rights Council, where I spoke on behalf of the eight countries to explicitly reaffirm our opposition to the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances, regardless of the crime committed.”

After Brussels in 2019 and Berlin in 2022, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation Maxime Prévot is delighted that the ninth World Congress Against the Death Penalty shall be held in Paris from 30 June to three July 2026. This spotlight of the worldwide abolitionist motion will present momentum to proceed efforts because of the recommendation and greatest practices gathered inside the abolitionist group.