On 3 July 2024, the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade of the Parliament of Australia announced it would conduct an inquiry into Australia’s efforts to advocate for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

Many of you would know that the Australian Government has an admirable, bipartisan commitment to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances for all people. Formally in place since July 2018, via Australia’s Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty, this includes a commitment to be a leader in efforts to end capital punishment worldwide.

But we can always do better. This inquiry provides an opportunity to reflect on Australia’s efforts to date and to make recommendations to strengthen our nation’s advocacy towards the ultimate goal of global abolition.

In collaboration with four of our partner organisations, CPJP led a joint submission to the inquiry, and will be appearing at a public hearing on Friday 11 October in Canberra. You can download our joint submission from our website.

World Day Against the Death Penalty provides a collective moment to support the call for the universal abolition of capital punishment.

This year's theme – the death penalty protects no one – is dedicated to challenging the misconception that this cruel form of punishment can make people and communities safer.

To mark the day, together with Eleos Justice, we are co-hosting a screening of the award-winning Iranian film Ballad of a White Cow in Melbourne. We would love to see you there!

Monday 16 September marked the two-year anniversary of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini in Iran, at the hands of the Islamic Republic regime. Research released that day by Iran Human Rights, shows that at least 1425 people have been executed in Iran since the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ protests commenced in mid-September 2022. This is a horrifying increase of 75% compared with the two years prior. Executions continue almost daily, with the majority for drug-related offences.

On Friday 20 September, the Constitutional Court of Taiwan ruled that the death penalty is constitutional, but only for the most serious crimes. While the result will restrict the use of the death penalty, it is a disappointing result, with advocates having hoped the court would abolish the death penalty. You can read more in the statement released by Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty.

On Tuesday 24 September, in the United States of America, the state of Missouri plans to execute Marcellus Williams, who has been on death row for 24 years. This is despite there being no reliable evidence connecting Williams to the crime and the prosecutor having recently sought to vacate his conviction and death sentence. Supported by the Innocence Project, and with founder of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson, also making a public statement, Williams can now only avoid the death penalty if granted clemency by the Governor.

Also in the United States, the state of Texas plans to execute Robert Roberson on Thursday 17 October. If his execution proceeds, the Innocence Project notes that Roberson would be the first person in the United States ‘to be executed based on the debunked and discredited shaken baby syndrome hypothesis.’ A clemency petition was filed on Tuesday 17 September, supported by over 30 scientists and doctors, 84 bipartisan Texas lawmakers and the lead detective on Roberson’s case, among others.

CPJP is thrilled to be back on Instagram, and we would love to have you join us there too! We will be sharing more information about who we are and what we do, as well as shining a spotlight on countries that retain the death penalty. Have a look at our latest posts and follow us for more.

One of our most popular recent posts on LinkedIn featured CPJP Board member, Jacinta Smith, when she attended the Public Interest Careers Fair hosted by Sydney University Law Society. It was so wonderful to see the interest in our work and our overseas volunteer program. If you would like to know more, get in touch via our website.

We also post regularly on Twitter and Facebook, so please follow us on your favourite social media platform.

Buy a t-shirt or tote bag to support our work

You can help fund CPJP’s life-saving work by purchasing a t-shirt or tote bag featuring the hauntingly beautiful artwork created by Myuran Sukumaran while he was on death row in Indonesia. We remain ever grateful to Myuran’s family, the Campbelltown Arts Centre and Das T-Shirt Automat for this collaboration.