News

In advance of Afghanistan’s interactive dialogue of the 4^th Cycle UPR, The Advocates and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty advocated in our stakeholder report and on-the-ground in Geneva for abolition of the death penalty. 
 
We were happy to see States making recommendations that Afghanistan:

• Abolish the death penalty and commute the sentences of all individuals currently under sentence of death with a penalty that is fair, proportionate, and consistent with international human rights standards.

• Institute an official moratorium on executions, at least until such laws can be clarified

• Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR and the Optional Protocol to CAT

In a statement to the UN earlier this month, Afghanistan’s representative to the UN accepted recommendations to establish a moratorium on executions and to provide official figures regarding death sentences and executions, which is a welcome step. Due to the 2021 takeover of the country by the Taliban, however, Afghan leaders in Geneva cannot enforce this moratorium and the de facto authorities likely will not promote transparency about death penalty practices. The de facto authorities continue to violate the rights of people detained and on trial. 
Join us September 26^th-30^th in watching the UPR Outcomes of Afghanistan on UN Web TV to continue the critical work of bringing these issues to the forefront of international dialogue.
 
The Advocates for Human Rights and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty are devoted to advocating for the abolition of the death penalty globally to ensure that every person’s human rights are realized and upheld. Join us on October 10^th for World Day Against the Death Penalty.