A wide variety of abolitionist actors gathered in Geneva between February 24-26 for the 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty. After three days of working sessions, the participants called on abolitionist states and internatinonal institutions to support their efforts.
After an opening ceremony marked by the presence of numerous international political leaders, participants to the World Congress met at the Geneva International Conference Centre.
Behind the colourful stands manned by abolitionist organizations from around the world in the entrance hall, the quiet corridors of the conference centre were humming with discussions between activists and announcements for the numerous thematic meetings - the role of lawyers, the use of the internet by abolitionist militants, discrimination in the administration of capital punishment... - and geographic discussions, from Asia to Africa, the Middle East and tthe Caribbean. The Congress ended on February 26 with a solemn ceremony with speakers including Iranian Nobel Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, leading American abolitionist figure Sr Helen Prejean and Switzerland's Federal Councillor for Foreign Affairs Micheline Calmy Rey.
While the days were filled with intense reflection, the evenings were more emotional. On Thursday, the voice of singer Emily Loizeau gave delegates some breathing space between moving testimonies by ordinary citizens whose life tipped over when the death penalty knocked on their door.
Wednesday night’s touching performance of the play based on Victor Hugo’s novel The Last day of a Condemned Man was just one example of the presence of artists at the World Congress, including photographic and cartoons exhibitions as well as an artistic installation representing a grim electric chair.
A wide variety of abolitionist actors gathered in Geneva between February 24-26 for the 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty. After three days of working sessions, the participants called on abolitionist states and internatinonal institutions to support their efforts.
The Congress ended on February 26 with a solemn ceremony with speakers including Iranian Nobel Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, leading American abolitionist figure Sr Helen Prejean and Switzerland's Federal Councillor for Foreign Affairs Micheline Calmy Rey.
