On 22 June 2026, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea hosted a Conference on the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Seoul, bringing together legal experts, civil society representatives, academics, students and members of the diplomatic corps to discuss ways to end capital punishment. The event was held ahead of the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, scheduled for 30 June to 2 July 2026 in Paris. Opening the conference, Ambassador Ugo Astuto, Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea, reaffirmed the EU's strong and unequivocal opposition to the death penalty at all times and under all circumstances, stating that it constitutes a serious violation of human rights and human dignity. The conference featured two expert panel discussions. The first panel, 'Death Penalty Abolition: Status and Trends in the Region,' included Ethan Hee-Seok Shin, Vice-Chair on Follow-Up of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Karen Dumpit, Convenor of the Anti Death Penalty Asia Network; and Eleonor Fernandez, Human Rights Officer at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. They examined global and regional trends, including developments across Asia and the DPRK, and the role of international cooperation. The second panel, 'Death Penalty Abolition: Status and Discussions in the Republic of Korea,' featured Prof. Kiyoung Kim, former Constitutional Court Justice; Saeyan Choi from Lawyers for Democratic Society; and Nahi Hong, Campaign Director at Amnesty International Korea. They explored legal, constitutional and human rights perspectives on the future of the death penalty in South Korea, including constitutional jurisprudence and civil society advocacy. The EU reiterated its position that the death penalty violates the right to life and human dignity, and noted that more than two-thirds of countries have now abolished it in law or practice. The EU pledged to continue its long-standing campaign against capital punishment, working with UN agencies, regional bodies and NGOs through advocacy, monitoring and technical cooperation. The conference was organized by the EU Delegation in cooperation with the Embassy of France, the International Commission against the Death Penalty, Human Asia, and the UN Human Rights Office.
Source📰 Read press release ↗