Brussels International Center Participation at the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty (Paris, 1 July 2026)
As part of its participation in the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, organized by the European Organisation Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) in Paris, the Brussels International Center closely followed a broad range of plenary sessions, thematic workshops, and side events dedicated to the evolving global debate surrounding capital punishment. Throughout the congress, the Center monitored discussions on international legal developments, human rights challenges, political repression, and the growing role of civil society in advancing the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.
Representing the Brussels International Center, Office Administrator and Media & Communication Manager Yousif Kharoubi actively attended the various sessions, documenting key discussions, engaging with participants, and ensuring comprehensive media coverage of the congress. His participation focused on following the most significant debates, identifying emerging trends, and establishing contacts with international experts, human rights defenders, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations.
One of the central discussions examined the theme “The Death Penalty in a Changing World: How Do We Address Its Resurgence?” bringing together representatives of national human rights institutions, regional organizations, and international advocacy networks. Speakers analyzed the renewed reliance on capital punishment in several countries within an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment, emphasizing how authoritarian governance, political instability, and security-based narratives have contributed to the persistence or reintroduction of executions. Considerable attention was given to the importance of strengthening international cooperation, reinforcing regional human rights mechanisms, and preventing setbacks to the global abolition movement.
The congress also devoted significant attention to the intersection between gender and capital punishment through an interactive workshop addressing the multiple and overlapping forms of discrimination experienced by women sentenced to death. Drawing on case studies from Iran and Nigeria, participants examined how gender inequality, economic vulnerability, ethnicity, religion, and unequal access to legal representation contribute to death sentences imposed on women. Discussions further highlighted the impact of gender-based violence and structural discrimination within criminal justice systems, concluding with the testimony of a former death row inmate whose experience illustrated the human consequences of wrongful convictions and the importance of due process and gender-sensitive judicial reforms.
In parallel, another high-level panel explored the legal and political debate surrounding the possible classification of systematic executions as crimes against humanity. Participants discussed international legal frameworks governing capital punishment and presented legal analyses arguing that certain patterns of executions, particularly where accompanied by widespread human rights violations and political repression, warrant closer examination under international criminal law. Several interventions focused on contemporary developments in Iran, examining allegations of arbitrary detention, torture, unfair trials, enforced disappearances, and politically motivated executions, while also expanding the discussion to other countries where the death penalty is used as an instrument of state control.
Beyond these sessions, the congress addressed a wide variety of regional situations and thematic issues, including mass executions, juvenile offenders, discrimination in criminal justice systems, diplomatic strategies to advance abolition, and the role of international institutions in monitoring compliance with international human rights standards. Numerous exchanges emphasized the growing importance of cooperation between governments, civil society organizations, legal experts, and international organizations to promote accountability and encourage legislative reform.
The Brussels International Center also maintained an active presence throughout networking activities, side events, and expert meetings held alongside the official programme. These engagements enabled the Center to expand its network with international stakeholders working in the fields of human rights, international law, transitional justice, and humanitarian advocacy, while identifying opportunities for future dialogue and cooperation on issues related to justice and human rights.
The Center's participation was further reinforced through the contribution of Yasmine Akrimi, Projects and Research Lead, who supported the analytical follow-up of the congress by monitoring substantive discussions, collecting research material, and contributing to the assessment of emerging international trends related to capital punishment and broader human rights developments. Her work complemented the Center's objective of producing evidence-based reporting and strengthening its research activities following the congress.
Overall, the Brussels International Center's participation on the second day of the Congress provided an important opportunity to monitor one of the world's leading international forums dedicated to the abolition of the death penalty. The congress offered valuable insight into contemporary legal, political, and humanitarian debates while enabling the Center to strengthen its international engagement, expand professional networks, and enhance its capacity to produce informed research and analysis on evolving global human rights issues.
