The death penalty and the EU's fight against it
At a Glance
12-02-2019
The European Union is strongly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances, and fighting it is a foremost priority of its external human rights policy. While most countries in the world have abolished capital punishment, death sentences continue to be handed down and carried out in a number of countries. The Union uses its diplomatic and political weight to encourage these countries to join the abolitionist ranks, or at the very least to respect international minimum standards. It funds campaigns to increase awareness of the need to end capital punishment, and restricts trade in substances that could be used for executions.
At a Glance
About this document
Publication type
Author
Policy area
Keyword
- criminal law
- death penalty
- European construction
- European Convention on Human Rights
- EUROPEAN UNION
- generalised preferences
- human rights
- international affairs
- INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- LAW
- POLITICS
- politics and public safety
- public awareness campaign
- rights and freedoms
- the EU's international role
- torture
- TRADE
- trade policy