The Brussels International Center (BIC) reaffirms its unwavering opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances and its commitment to its global abolition. As a human rights-based organization, the BIC will participate in the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, organized by ECPM – Together Against the Death Penalty in Paris from 30 June to 2 July.

Engagement in this Congress is a key moment for dialogue and coordination among civil society actors, policymakers, and legal experts working toward the universal abolition of capital punishment. We hope it will provide an essential space to strengthen advocacy efforts and reinforce shared legal and ethical standards against the death penalty.

Despite ongoing global trends toward abolition, executions continue in several regions. The BIC remains particularly concerned by the situation in Iran, where the death penalty is applied at alarming rates, including against political dissidents and protesters, as well as by recent legislative developments in Israel introducing the possibility of capital punishment for Palestinian prisoners in the context of occupation, raising serious concerns under international humanitarian law and due process guarantees.

As a European-based organization operating within a legal framework in which the death penalty has been abolished and firmly rejected by the European Union, the BIC reiterates that universal abolition remains a core component of the protection of human rights and the right to life.

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Yesterday, the Brussels International Center (BIC) had the pleasure of attending the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, held at the Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels.

The event brought together American and Belgian citizens, NATO and European Union partners, members of the diplomatic corps and business leaders to commemorate this historic milestone and celebrate the enduring ties between the United States, Belgium, and the broader transatlantic community.

BIC was honored to participate in this occasion, which underscored the importance of transatlantic cooperation, dialogue, and the strong partnerships that continue to shape our shared future.

We extend our congratulations on this landmark anniversary and thank Ambassador Bill White and the U.S. Embassy in Brussels for their hospitality and the opportunity to be part of this memorable celebration.

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The Brussels International Center (BIC) reaffirms its unwavering opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances and its commitment to its global abolition. As a fundamental violation of the right to life and human dignity, capital punishment has no place in a world committed to justice, human rights, and the rule of law.

At a time when executions continue to be carried out in several parts of the world, BIC expresses particular concern over the continued use of the death penalty in Iran, where executions remain among the highest globally and are frequently employed against political dissidents and protesters. We are equally concerned by the adoption of legislation in Israel enabling the application of capital punishment against Palestinian prisoners in a context of occupation, raising grave concerns under international humanitarian law, due process, and the right to life.

The BIC calls on all states that retain capital punishment to establish immediate moratoriums on executions and take concrete steps toward abolition. We stand in solidarity with human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and civil society actors working under increasingly difficult conditions to challenge this irreversible and inhumane practice. As a European-based organization operating within a regional framework where the death penalty has been fully abolished and firmly rejected as a matter of law and principle by the European Union, the BIC reiterates that its complete abolition remains a core condition of respect for human rights, and urges all remaining retentionist states to align with this global and irreversible trend toward abolition.

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