Combatting the death penalty & State-sanctioned killing though evidence-based research, teaching & advocacy. A collaboration b/w @MonashLawSchool@cpjp_org_au.
11 years ago today, eight men faced the firing squad in Indonesia, including Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. They chose to stand, unblindfolded, and sang together in their final moments. We will never forget them. #AndrewChan#MyuranSukumaran#11YearsOn
On International Women's Day, I think of the women and girls of Iran who should be here. Those killed in a missile strike on a girls' primary school. Those detained, missing, or dead in connection with the nationwide protests. Their stories need to be remembered.
ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…
🔥 307 executions in one month, deadliest state‑led killing spree in Iran in years, with 648 executions recorded so far in 2026.
📊 Our February Report reveals how the killing machine is on overdrive and why the world must act now. #StopExecutionsInIraniran-hrm.com/2026/03/06/iran…
Together with other UN experts, I condemn Iran's ongoing internet shutdown—a deliberate attempt to conceal the violence being perpetrated against nationwide demonstrations.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…
The dangerous rhetoric labelling peaceful protesters as 'terrorists,' 'rioters,' or 'mercenaries' seeks to justify brutal crackdowns. The exact death toll remains uncertain due to the shutdown, but it is likely to be in the thousands or more. Regardless of the exact number of deaths - even a single casualty is extremely serious. Lethal force can only be used as a last resort to protect life. It must be legal, necessary, proportionate. All deaths require investigation.
Both the killings of peaceful protesters on the streets by security forces and the use of the death penalty for moharabeh (enmity against God) are unlawful. The death penalty is not the response of a country where freedom of assembly and expression are respected.
Authorities have a choice between perpetuating cycles of violence and repression that have characterised past responses to dissent or create space for genuine dialogue with its people who are expressing dissent and calling for significant political and governance-related change.
Despite operating in a severely restricted civic space with immense personal risk, the people of Iran continue to demonstrate extraordinary courage in their pursuit of fundamental rights. @UN_SPExperts@Ginitastar@SR_Afghanistan@Irenekhan
Along with one other person, Saminathan a/l Selvaraju was executed yesterday. In 2025 alone, 17 people have been executed in #Singapore - three in the last two days. #stopthekilling#endthedeathpenalty
Honoured to welcome @MarkDreyfusKCMP to our event last week - today announced as Australia's Special Envoy for Int'l Human Rights. His message: "We can't be complacent... We must continue to pursue all avenues available to achieve the universal abolition of the death penalty."
📆This Friday 10 Oct: World Day Against the Death Penalty. CPJP's Vice-Chair Sara Kowal joins experts examining Dr Ahmadreza Djalali's case – a Swedish-Iranian scholar wrongfully sentenced to death in #Iran.
6-8pm at Monash Caulfield or online.
Link to register 👇
#NoDeathPenalty
Myths that death penalty is solution to reducing crime are busted by facts which show implementation of death penalty hasn’t reduced crime, that most on death row are poor, first time offenders and could’t afford a lawyer. And large no are in prison for murder, not drug offences
@anuradisanayake there is research and experience worldwide which show that death penalty does not deter or reduce crime. This was the finding of Morris Commission in Sri Lanka in 1958. The use of death penalty only normalises state violence and cruelty.
ft.lk/columns/World-Day-Agai…
#AbolishDeathPenalty
Glad Prez @anuradisanayake is asking ppl to consider whether #deathpenalty is a suitable punishment. He is pointing to the seriousness of signing a death warrant to take a person’s life, which is inhumane. Hope he will have courage to abolish death penalty.
“We tend to think we should at least hang them. But, I have to sign the death of a living being. Is it suitable? We must see if hanging is the only solution to prevent crimes, and how a signature decides a person’s fate,” President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, adding that capital punishment must be considered carefully before being imposed for crimes.
D: newswire.lk/hup7
Press release: The Islamic Republic of Iran has returned over 1.5 million Afghan nationals in 2025, with returns and forced returns escalating dramatically following the Iran-Israel conflict. Daily returns climbed steeply after 13 June, with average daily returns exceeding 29,600 during 10-16 July. Among those deported are approximately 5,000 unaccompanied children (in June alone).
I have received reports indicating concerning patterns of arbitrary detention, destruction of identity documents, and mistreatment at border checkpoints and deportation facilities. Broad security-related allegations have intensified anti-Afghan sentiment, with even some holding valid documentation being returned.
Afghanistan remains unsafe under Taliban rule. These mass returns violate international law and put vulnerable people - especially women, children, and minorities - at severe risk of persecution and violence. No one should be sent back to face persecution.
I have joined other UN experts calling for an immediate halt to these forced returns and the need for increased humanitarian support. ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…@SR_Afghanistan@PaulaGaviriaB
See also:
· data.unhcr.org/en/documents/…
· unicef.org.au/stories/nowher…
UN experts condemn ongoing mass returns of #Afghan nationals – many of them #refugees – from Iran & Pakistan. They call for returns to be halted immediately, saying Afghanistan is not a safe country for returnees since the #Taliban seized control.
ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…
🚨On #WorldDrugDay, we join 70 organisations calling for urgent action: @UNODC and @CND_tweets must act to end the #deathpenalty for drug-related offences.
2024 saw 600 drug-related executions – the deadliest year since 2015.
Read our joint statement 👇cpjp.org.au/news/joint-state…