The death penalty is inhuman, cruel, degrading, and final form of punishment, which also constitutes a gross violation of human rights of those convicted and their family members. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this year’s World Day goes under the slogan Children: Unseen Victims. Frequently forgotten, children of parents sentenced to death or executed carry a heavy emotional and psychological burden. This trauma can impact their whole lives.

The global abolition of the death penalty is important both in order to protect human dignity and to avoid irreparable damage. Furthermore, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that it holds any value as a deterrent.

This is why Slovenia welcomes the enhanced efforts to achieve global abolition, and urges all remaining retentionist states to abolish the death penalty as soon as possible or to establish a moratorium on executions.