Human rights defenders declare a week against the death penalty

From 5 to 10 October, the Human Rights Center "Viasna" will hold "A Week Against the Death Penalty" , full of events and information on the painful issues raised by human rights activists in the Belarusian society.

During the week, human rights activists intend to hold a number of activities. The highlight of the presentation promises to be an online music project "The Last Dawn", which falls on this time. The brightest event will be the online presentation of the musical project “The Last Dawn” falling on this time. An issue of the podcast “Rock for human rights” will be dedicated to the ways to comprehend the death penalty in the world rock culture. There will be started a topical web-resource, accumulating all information on the issue of the death penalty, including interviews, analytical publications, photo- and video materials including new videos from the cycle “Six arguments against the death penalty” and a video with the participation of the Belarusian artists who joined the Petition against the death penalty.

Topical discussions among student youth will be held and information materials about the death penalty in Belarus will be distributed. In particular, Biaroza, Zodzina, Hrodna human rights defenders filed an application to the city executive committee for holding an informational picket.

The culmination of this topical week will be 10 October, the World Day against the Death Penalty. On that day a press-conference with the participation of the relatives of the death convicts will take place.

The week against the death penalty is held within the framework of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty” which has been held since 2009. The aim of the campaign is to abolish the death penalty in the country and make Belarus join the common European values. Belarus remains the only European country where the death penalty is still used.