Paris, France – Nearly 90 percent of the member states of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) have either abolished the death penalty or no longer carry it out, OIF Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo has said during the opening of the International Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris.
Addressing delegates from governments, civil society organizations, legal experts and human rights advocates, Mushikiwabo said the Francophonie has made significant progress in promoting the abolition of capital punishment, even though the global pace of reform has slowed in recent years.
“Nearly 90 percent of the member states of the Francophonie have abolished the death penalty or no longer implement it. While the momentum toward universal abolition has slowed, our commitment to dialogue and advancing this cause remains unwavering,” Mushikiwabo said.
The congress brings together representatives from countries that have abolished the death penalty, nations that still retain it, as well as international institutions seeking to encourage legal reforms and strengthen the protection of the right to life.
Discussions at the conference are centered on promoting universal abolition of capital punishment, sharing experiences from countries that have successfully reformed their justice systems, supporting states considering legislative change, and addressing concerns about human rights, wrongful convictions, and the effectiveness of the death penalty as a deterrent to crime.
Although no binding international agreement is expected to emerge from the conference, participants are likely to adopt a renewed political declaration urging countries that still retain the death penalty to establish moratoriums on executions as a first step toward abolition.
The meeting is also expected to reinforce cooperation among Francophone countries through legal assistance, judicial reforms, public awareness campaigns, and support for civil society organizations advocating against capital punishment.
The OIF has consistently promoted human rights, democracy, and the rule of law as core values among its member states.
Mushikiwabo emphasized that sustained dialogue and cooperation remain essential to achieving the long-term objective of a world free from the death penalty, despite differing legal traditions and political contexts across member countries.
By Andrew Shyaka