Statement by the Spokesperson on the abolition of the death penalty in Washington State, USA

On 11 October, the Supreme Court of the US State of Washington ruled to ban the death penalty, bringing the number of US States that have now abolished the capital punishment to twenty.

The decision further encourages the growing trend to abandon capital punishment.

The death penalty is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. No compelling evidence exists to show that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to crime and any miscarriages of justice are irreversible.

As the European Union, we strongly oppose the death penalty and will continue to work for its abolition worldwide.