Commissioner Marta Santos Pais was invited to deliver the keynote speech at the International Conference on the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Europe. The event took place at the end of April and was organised by the Directorate-General for Books, Archives and Libraries, within the framework of the initiative “Heritage of Hope: The Abolitionist Legacy in Europe.” The Conference was held alongside a multimedia exhibition on the abolitionist movement, open to the public until 30 August 2026.
“Heritage of Hope: The Abolitionist Legacy in Europe” is a pan-European heritage partnership bringing together three European heritage sites: the Torre do Tombo National Archives in Lisbon, the General Library of the University of Coimbra, and the Archive of the Crown of Aragon in Barcelona. The initiative explores the historical movement for the abolition of the death penalty, with a particular focus on Portugal and Spain, highlighting its relevance to European values of human rights and human dignity. It also aims to engage European citizens—particularly young people—in reflecting on the historical and contemporary significance of the abolitionist movement.
The International Conference was opened by the Secretary of State for Culture of Portugal and the Spanish Director General of State Archives. It included several panel discussions addressing the abolitionist movement in France (Professor Emmanuel Berger), Belgium (Professor Jérôme De Brouwer), Spain (Professor Óscar Bascuñán Añover), and Portugal (Professor Maria João Vaz). The situation of women sentenced to death was also addressed by Professor Maria Antónia Lopes.
In her address, Commissioner Marta Santos Pais recalled the abolitionist movement in Portugal and highlighted the crucial role played by the International Commission against the Death Penalty across regions. She also assessed the significant progress achieved over recent decades worldwide, alongside ongoing global challenges, as well as relevant European legal and policy developments in this field.
For the programme, please find attached.
