The World Day Against the Death Penalty is observed on 10 October every year. The day aims to build public awareness in favour of abolishing capital punishment and to strengthen the protection of human rights across the world. Campaigners use the occasion to highlight cases of people facing execution and to press governments to move away from the death penalty. The theme chosen for 2026 is “Stories for Life,” which places the personal stories of those affected by capital punishment at the centre of the campaign.