World Day Against the Death Penalty

	10 October 2010 -- The first World Day Against the Death Penalty took place in 2003. This event was launched by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, which gathers international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), bar associations, unions and local governments from all over the world. Established by organisations who participated in the first international Congress against the death penalty (Strasbourg, 2001), the Coalition aims to encourage the establishment of national coalitions, the organisation of common initiatives and the coordination of international lobbying efforts to sensitise states that still maintain the death penalty. The 8th World Day Against the Death Penalty is dedicated to the USA which executed 52 people and handed down 106 death sentences in 2009. Source: World Coalition Against the Death Penalty Selected learning materials Study Guide on the Right to Life This guide provides a brief introduction into safeguards to protect the human rights to life, including international standards against the death penalty and extra-judicial killings. Death Penalty Curricula for High School This curriculum addresses history of the death penalty, arguments for and against, court cases on the death penalty and additional resources. The site includes two sample units plans for teachers. Each of the units involves an extensive amount of group work, simulations, persuasive and individual essay writing, and class participation. Educational Guide: World Day 2009 This manual offers several activities related to World Day Against the Death Penalty. It is aimed particularly at teachers of students aged 14 to 18. International standards on the death penalty This document gives extracts of international and regional instruments (treaties, declarations) relevant to the abolition or restriction of the death penalty, arranged by subject. Among other things, the instruments set forth safeguards and restrictions on the death penalty. The appendix of this document includes the texts of the relevant sections of the instruments. International treaties to abolish the death penalty: - Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty (1989) - Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights (1983) - Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights (2002) - Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty (1990) Useful Links World Coalition Against the Death Penalty Council of Europe Theme File on Death Penalty Amnesty International Website Against the Death Penalty Amnesty International-USA's Program to Abolish the Death Penalty Death Penalty Information Center (USA) European Day against the death penalty (Council of Europe)