Together against the death penalty
Paris, July 24, 2026
Following the 8th edition in Berlin three years ago, the 9th World Congress of “Together Against the Death Penalty” took place in Paris in early July, and we were there.
Whilst tragic news stories regularly bring the issue back into the public eye, we believe it is essential to reiterate that the death penalty is by no means a deterrent: indeed, it is ineffective in combating crime, it does not make society safer, and countries that use it generally have higher crime rates than those that have abolished it. According to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, “On the contrary, states that have abolished the death penalty have seen crime rates fall or stabilise.” (source: UN News)
Capital punishment is part of a cycle of violence from which we must break free in order to build a peaceful world and a fairer society for the future. For violence begets only more violence…
Furthermore, the death penalty is often exploited as a tool for oppressing and repressing the population and for exerting diplomatic pressure, as is clearly evident in Iran, where death sentences have been on the rise since the recent protests….
Not to mention the innocent people who are wrongly convicted, such as the American Ndume Olatushani, who spent 28 years in prison – 17 of them on death row – for a crime he did not commit. Frédérique Bedos had invited him to share his story at the 2024 “Normandy for Peace” World Forum during a round-table discussion dedicated to “defenders of freedom”. A powerful testimony, which you can watch again below:
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Ndume Onatoshani’s speech begins at 1:19:00
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Founded in 2010 by journalist Frédérique Bedos, the NGO of information « Le Projet Imagine » aims to create a movement of citizen commitment with a view to a more inclusive and sustainable society.
Convinced that everyone can activate their power to make the world a better place, it raises public awareness through inspiring films and involves the public in action-oriented programs that are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals as defined by the United Nations.These programs are deployed in schools and increasingly in companies, cities and prisons.
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