Europe is the first continent in which the death penalty has been almost completely abolished. The Council of Europe has been Europe's major defender of abolition and presently requires all countries seeking membership in its ranks to place a moratorium on the death penalty. This collection of texts by major European abolitionists includes voices from countries which have enjoyed abolition for many years, as well as from those where abolition has been a struggle against public opinion. Contributors from governments, universities and NGOs add their voices to that of the Council of Europe, explaining the achievements and the ground still to be covered in attaining total abolition in Europe. _______ An introduction by a world expert on abolition, Roger Hood and a conclusion by Russia's leading abolitionist Sergey Kovalev makes this volume a moving testament to the battle for abolition of the death penalty, which is already so well advanced in Europe. _______ This collection also contains a detailed explanation of Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which deals specifically with abolition of the death penalty, as well as reports on various eastern European countries which have yet to attain complete abolitionist status.
Preface : Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Introduction: Roger Hood: The abandonment of capital punishment: some reflections on the European experience
1.