An event rooted in ECPM’s history of activism
Since its foundation in 2000, ECPM has placed citizen mobilisation at the heart of its actions. The organisation was founded on the conviction that, in order to move forward with the universal abolition of the death penalty, advocacy with institutions must go hand in hand with civil society engagement and raising awareness amongst the general public.
The Fête de l’Humanité is very much part of this history. This annual event enables ECPM to reach out to an audience already engaged with a wide range of political, social and human rights issues, and to give a more specific voice to the abolitionist cause.
One of the cornerstones of this mobilisation is the commitment of around fifteen ECPM volunteers, who are present throughout the weekend alongside the staff team. A huge thank you to everyone for their dedication!
As usual, the association shared its stand with the ‘Free Mumia!’ collective. As long-standing partners, the two organisations are united in their shared fight for human rights, justice and against the death penalty.
Raising awareness and encouraging dialogue
Over the course of two days, the ECPM booth was run by around fifteen volunteers and five members of the staff, with one aim: to engage with visitors to the festival to inform them and discuss the situation of the death penalty around the world. As the subject can raise many questions, the teams favoured fun and interactive formats to engage the public in discussion: a ‘tin can alley’-style quiz, questions asked in the aisles with goodies to be won, and the distribution of documentation.
These provided plenty of opportunities to address the reality of the death penalty today, to challenge certain misconceptions, and to highlight the progress made by the abolitionist movement.
In total, more than 200 people were directly reached: young people, campaigners, members of educational teams and diverse visitors to the festival. The wide range of participants and discussions demonstrates the value of these encounters in keeping the debate on abolition alive.
Abolition in Lebanon as the focus in discussions
Just a few weeks before the Fête de l’Humanité, Lebanon abolished the death penalty for all crimes, marking a historic step forward for the abolitionist movement in the region.
This news naturally featured in discussions at the booth. It provided an opportunity to reflect on decades of commitment by Lebanese civil society, supported in particular by ECPM and its local partners.
This development also serves as a reminder that the path to abolition is built over time, thanks to the joint efforts of civil society actors, abolitionist organisations and institutions.
A big thank you to everyone who came to meet us and chat at the booth, as well as to the volunteers and members of the staff who brought these two days to life.
See you next year as we continue our journey towards universal abolition together!
ECPM’s worldmap
ECPM’s volunteers and staff
Overview of the booth
Would you like to get involved with ECPM too? Join the organisation by becoming a volunteer, a member or a donor!
ECPM at the Fête de l’Humanité: previous years
