We believe the death penalty, however administered, will almost always violate universally accepted and absolute human rights, namely, the right to life and the right not to be subject to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Free legal representation

There are many prisoners under sentence of death in Caribbean, African and Asian countries who are at risk of execution. The vast majority do not have the financial resources to challenge their convictions at the appeal stages, or to establish violations of their domestic and international human rights. In capital cases legal aid remains very limited, and is unavailable for the vast majority of those seeking redress in constitutional or international proceedings. Furthermore, there are very few lawyers in these regions who are prepared to represent prisoners on a pro bono basis; still fewer with the training and expertise sufficient to equip them to do so. As a result, there continues to be a very real need for us to provide legal assistance, complemented by relevant research and training on human rights and the death penalty.

We work with a dedicated number of committed lawyers in Caribbean, African and Asian countries in providing expert support on international and comparative law as it relates to the death penalty. In virtually all the cases, we are fortunate to be able to instruct a number of UK barristers and medical experts to represent and assess prisoners at all stages of their appeals on a pro bono basis.

For more details of our work and specific cases in each region, click here.

For more details of our training events in each region, please click here.

Assisting British and other foreign nationals

As members of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Pro Bono Panel, we provide legal assistance and advice to British nationals facing the death penalty overseas. We also provide legal assistance to other foreign nationals and are currently assisting two Bulgarian nationals in Malaysia. For more information, click here.

We have assisted and/or are currently assisting a number of British nationals in St Christopher & Nevis, Ghana, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Malaysia.

Free legal representation

Assisting British and other foreign nationals

LATEST NEWS

The Death Penalty Project shortlisted for The Charity Awards 2013

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DPP marks International Human Rights Day