The death penalty, also called capital punishment, is a judicial sanction consisting of executing a person found guilty of a serious crime, often referred to as a capital offense. This practice, inherited from history, aims to punish the most serious offenses, such as murder or acts considered to seriously threaten social order, according to the laws of certain countries.

Moreover, methods of execution, such as hanging, lethal injection, shooting or electrocution, are often inhumane and marked by physical and psychological suffering, not only for the condemned, but also for their families and sometimes the executioners themselves.

Around the world, the death penalty is increasingly being rejected. Today, more than 140 countries have abolished it in law or practice, reflecting a shift towards more humane and rights-respecting justice systems.

Fighting against the death penalty means defending human dignity and rejecting a justice system based on violence. This is why organisations like ACAT Luxembourg are campaigning for its universal and definitive abolition.