Monaco Supports the 15th International Congress of Ministers of Justice for the Abolition of the Death Penalty

Monaco reaffirmed its support for the 15th International Congress of Ministers of Justice “for a world without the death penalty,” which opened on December 1st at the Italian Chamber of Deputies. The event was organized for the third consecutive year with the support of the Princely Government.

Held annually in Rome at the initiative of the Community of Sant’Egidio, the congress brings together representatives from countries across all regions of the world with the aim of promoting a culture of life and advancing toward the universal abolition of capital punishment. This year, numerous students and representatives of civil society also took part.

The two days of discussions highlighted the progress achieved in recent years by the abolitionist movement, particularly in Africa, which is on track to become, after Europe, the second continent free of the death penalty. Today, more than two thirds of the world’s countries have already abandoned this cruel punishment, in law or in practice.

This positive trend is nevertheless marred by an alarming increase in the number of executions, which in 2024 reached their highest level in a decade, even though they remain confined to a very small minority of countries.

In her address, H.E. Ms. Anne Eastwood, Ambassador of Monaco to Italy, warned against the politicization of the death penalty in times of crisis and called for the responsibility of all States to prevent any backward steps. Recalling the Principality’s unconditional commitment to respect for life and human dignity, which continues to be the guiding principle of all its ethical choices, she also emphasized the essential role of actors such as Sant’Egidio, who work to persuade through dialogue, listening, and parallel diplomacy.

Monaco, which was the 10th country in the world to completely abolish the death penalty in 1962, remains firmly committed on the international stage to the fight for its universal abolition.

This commitment will continue next July in Paris, through the participation of the Princely Government in the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, another flagship initiative held every three years, led by civil society, to encourage governments and public opinion worldwide to collectively move toward a justice system that no longer kills.