EU statement, OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference , 5 - 15 October 2026, Plenary Session 2: Rule of Law I

Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are abhorrent violations of human rights, human integrity and human dignity that run counter to international law and the OSCE’s concept of comprehensive security. 

Our OSCE commitments and international obligations are clear: the prohibition of torture is absolute and unconditional. Yet almost six years after the 2020 Tirana Ministerial Council Decision, which committed all participating States to further prevent and eradicate torture, its use in the OSCE region persists.

In its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia continues its widespread and systematic use of torture, according to various international mechanisms including the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, ODIHR and the OSCE Moscow Mechanism. 

In addition, while the EU takes note of the release of several political prisoners in Belarus, we remain deeply concerned for the reportedly remaining over 800 political prisoners often held under life threatening conditions with credible reports of torture and ill-treatment and inhumane conditions of detention.

The EU condemns in the strongest terms the use of torture, ill-treatment and killing of political prisoners, prisoners of war and civilian detainees. We urge all participating states to adopt a holistic, victim- and survivor-centred and gender-responsive approach and we stress the importance of documentation as the basis for proper investigation and redress, as set out in the “Méndez Principles”.

Accountability remains critical and we fully support international investigative mechanisms, including ODIHR’s documentation efforts, the Moscow Mechanism, the UN Commission of Inquiry, and ICC investigations into torture and other war crimes committed in Ukraine in the context of Russia’s aggression.

As we approach the European and World Day Against the Death Penalty, on 10 October, dedicated to highlighting the human lives affected by the death penalty and amplify their stories, we reiterate the EU’s opposition to the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances. Capital punishment is a cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment that is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and with the inherent dignity of the human person. There is no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value of the death penalty. Its irreversible nature means that wrongful convictions may well result in the loss of innocent lives.

More than two thirds of the world’s countries have abolished capital punishment in either law or in practice. We note with concern that Belarus has retained the death penalty—remaining the only country in Europe to do so. We remain deeply concerned about the legislative framework that foresees the imposition of the death penalty based on vaguely defined penal provisions. Meanwhile, we note that Belarusian democratic forces adopted on 17 June 2025 a Memorandum committing to the abolition of capital punishment. In the United States, we regret that the federal government and many states still retain the death penalty. We express deep concern about the decision to revive the federal death penalty and lift the moratorium on federal executions. We call on all States, including OSCE participating States and Partners for Cooperation, that still retain the death penalty, to establish a moratorium on executions as a first step towards its full abolition and to support the upcoming United Nations General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The EU will continue to advocate for a death penalty-free OSCE area and beyond.

Finally, the EU reaffirms that sustainable responses to terrorism and violent extremism must be based on human rights, democracy, the rule of law, transparency, accountability and gender-responsiveness. Engagement with civil society is crucial to effective, transparent and legitimate counter-terrorism measures. We call on participating States to review counter-terrorism and national security policies, online and offline, and reverse measures that do not comply with OSCE and international commitments.

Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.