Reel Challenge 'Thailand towards Abolition: 2 Minutes for Life', marking the World Day against the Death Penalty

🕊️Every 10 October marks the World Day against the Death Penalty. 

🌏 More than two-thirds of the world's countries have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice, leaving 54 retentionist states worldwide. Thailand is among them. The last execution took place in 2018, following a 9-year hiatus.

📌The European Union, whose core values include the protection and promotion of human rights, has worked closely with various stakeholders around the world to advance this agenda, in line with the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020–2027, to raise shared awareness that the death penalty violates the 'right to life' — a basic human right. The EU supports informed and respectful public debate on abolition, while also recognising the suffering of victims and their families and the irreversible risk of judicial error inherent in capital punishment.

🎥 On the occasion of this year's World Day against the Death Penalty, the Delegation of the European Union to Thailand is launching a Reel Challenge under the theme 'Thailand towards Abolition: 2 Minutes for Life', inviting university students of all years currently enrolled at universities in Thailand to submit their entries.

 💡 The objective of this activity is to create a space for young people to reflect on this global human rights issue, and to use their creativity to produce media that raises awareness of the right to life, encouraging society to consider Thailand's path towards the abolition of the death penalty in the future.

About the competition:

🔵Theme: 'Thailand towards Abolition: 2 Minutes for Life'

🟡 Submission requirements:

Format:
- Submit a Reel-format video, no longer than 2 minutes, via Google Form only (do not post on any social media accounts beforehand). The video must be in vertical/portrait format (9:16 aspect ratio).
- The video may take the form of animation, a graphic presentation with voice-over narration, or other engaging motion-graphic formats. Participants are not required to appear on camera or speak on camera themselves.

In line with the “do no harm” principle and the need to protect participants privacy, submitted reel should not be published anywhere and must be sent only via the form. 

For winning entries that will be published in the future, written consent will be sought in discussion with the participants.

Content:
- Must convey substantive content reflecting human rights, justice, and rehabilitation, with due consideration for suitability for online publication.
- Must not contain hate speech, discrimination, disturbing or violent imagery, misinformation, or unverified content, and must not infringe copyright or personal rights. All referenced information must clearly cite its source.
- Statistics, images, and graphics may be used to support the topic presented.

- Resolution: Submit files in 720p resolution (maximum size 1GB). Finalists will be required to submit a 1080p Full HD file at a later stage.
- Language: English, or Thai with English subtitles.
- Entries must be newly created specifically for this competition and must not have been published anywhere before.
- Each participant may submit only one entry.

Policy on AI-generated content:
- Generative AI tools may only be used for secondary elements, such as background audio enhancement, colour grading, or minor visual effects.
- The core concept, script, and creative direction must originate from the participants themselves.
- Any use of AI must be clearly disclosed in the application form.
- Entries in which AI is used to generate the entire content (core concept, script, or visuals) will be disqualified immediately.

🗓️ Timeline:
- Announcement and opening of applications: 1 September 2026
- Submission deadline: 30 September 2026 at 17:00 hrs (Bangkok time)
- Results announcement: 10 October 2026
- Award ceremony: to be confirmed at a later date
 
 📩 How to submit: Complete the form https://shorturl.at/Nv3Uy  uploading the video file, personal details (full name, university/institution, department/faculty or field of study, phone number, and email), AI usage disclosure, and consent for the publication of the entry.
 
📌Evaluation criteria:
- 40% Concept and advocacy impact: clarity of the message and its effectiveness in advancing dialogue on Thailand's path towards the abolition of the death penalty 
- 30% Creativity and engagement: compelling presentation, storytelling suited to social media, and the ability to capture viewers' attention within 2 minutes 
- 20% Originality 
- 10% Compliance with requirements: full compliance with the rules and clear disclosure of AI usage

 🎁 Awards:
-  1st Prize: an iPad (valued at approximately 17,000 THB), together with a certificate of recognition and a gift set from the EU
- 2nd Prize: a Central Magic Gift Card worth 8,000 THB, together with a certificate of recognition and a gift set from the EU
- 3rd Prize: a Lamy pen or equivalent (valued at approximately 2,000 THB), together with a certificate of recognition and a gift set from the EU
 
🎞️Award-winning Reels will be featured in a website article and shared across EUDEL's social media channels (following the participant's signature on the media consent form and formal agreement). All qualifying participants will also receive a digital certificate of appreciation.