The Commonwealth of Virginia has today become the latest U.S. State to abolish the death penalty.

23 U.S. States have now abolished capital punishment while 13 others have had no executions over the last 10 years. At state level, executions and new death sentences remain at a historic low.

Today’s welcome move reflects the growing trend not only in the United States but around the world to abandon capital punishment.

The death penalty is incompatible with human dignity and the right to life, constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment, and does not have any proven deterrent effect. The European Union strongly opposes the death penalty and will spare no effort to work for its abolition worldwide.