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Join us for Human Rights Day and online art auction

CPJP invites you to our Human Rights Day event hosted by Minter Ellison on Thursday, 9 December, @ 18:30 ADST.  Register here.
The event will showcase artistic impressions of individuals at risk of execution/extrajudicial killing confronting their changed reality in Afghanistan post the Taliban takeover. Please share far and wide with your networks and tune in to hear from our inspiring speakers:

 

Muzafar Ali, Hazara photographer and human rights activist from Afghanistan, and director of a refugee led program in Indonesia and Thailand.

Azadah Raz Mohammad, PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne and legal scholar from Afghanistan who has worked in close collaboration with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Afghan Ministry of Justice,

and moderated by film producer and director of Savage Films, Maggie Miles.

 

There will also be an opportunity to bid for a special piece of art, Friends by Yosl Bergner, and a guest appearance by Shaike ‘I am art’ Snir to discuss the meaning of the artwork and its relevance to Human Rights Day and the themes of CPJP’s Afghanistan initiative. CPJP is delighted to announce an online art auction through Lawsons, made possible with the support and vision of Shaike Snir I Am Art. Combine your love of art with support for a good cause. Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing a piece of art not yet marked sold online.

 

Artwork produced by child of individual at risk in Afghanistan

    CPJP Virtual Experience Program in partnership with Forage


    CPJP has launched a free virtual experience program, in partnership with Forage, that enables participants to learn more about CPJP’s mission for a world without the death penalty and start building skills and experience directly relevant to volunteering with CPJP. 

    The program consists of a series of tasks that closely mirror the type of work you could expect to do while volunteering at CPJP. It is recommended for participants who have studied or are interested in law, international relations, diplomacy, human rights, policy, advocacy and communications, and those who are interested in the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. 

    The program is free and open to anyone around the world. The program takes approximately 6 hours to complete and is entirely self-paced. 

    Get started here: CPJP Virtual Experience Program

      Bangladesh: Immediate Moratorium on Executions Must Be Imposed

      Capital Punishment Justice Project joins Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) and International Federation of Human Rights in urging Bangladesh to immediately halt the impending execution of Shukur Ali, in violation of his right to a fair trial and in total disregard of due process.

      See our joint statement here: Joint Statement – Bangladesh Executions

       

        Singapore: Halt Impending Execution of Intellectually Disabled Person

        Solidarity with Nagaenthran

        Capital Punishment Justice Project joins 27 organisations and networks and counsel M. Ravi in urging the Singaporean Government to immediately halt the impending execution of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam; and in calling on UN entities, the European Union, and all relevant stakeholders to take urgent action. Click here for the joint statement. 

        Click here to hear from Nagaenthran’s mother about why urgent action is needed.
         

          World Day Against the Death Penalty:

          Virtual fireside conversation with guest speaker Sunny Jacobs

          In support of World Day Against the Death Penalty, CPJP and Clifford Chance held a virtual fireside conversation with guest speaker Sunny Jacobs.
          A recording of the event will be available for viewing online soon.
           

            Risks to life posed by information sharing

            Media release

            Although Australia abolished the death penalty in 1973, committed to protecting the inherent right to life enshrined in Article 6(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and committed to abolition by ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR in 1990, the risk is live of misuse of Australian-sourced information and unintended complicity in the use of the death penalty abroad. Read about the implications of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (International Production Orders) Bill 2020 here, which passed into law in June 2021.  

              Emergency assistance to evacuate Afghans at risk of death

              Capital Punishment Justice Project is working to support specific individuals who are at risk of death or harm if they are not transported to the airport and evacuated from Kabul.

              In July 2021, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission said in areas controlled by Taliban, women, government officials, journalists, and human rights defenders (among others) were facing targeted killings.

              Join us in assisting them and helping to shine a spotlight on their urgent situation here.

                Statement on the passing of CHRP Chairperson Chito Gascon

                CPJP is saddened to hear of the passing of Chairperson Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon, who died on 9 October 2021 of complications arising from Covid-19. Chair Chito dedicated his life to advocating for human rights in the Philippines. As Chair of the Commission for Human Rights in the Philippines (CHRP) from 2015, he fought for justice for the victims of President Duterte’s War on Drugs, preserving evidence and collecting testimonies. He did this in the face of relentless personal attacks from President Duterte, resulting in ongoing harassment and threats. He will be remembered as a courageous and compassionate leader, preserving key democratic values in the face of shrinking civil society space. Capital Punishment Justice Project and Eleos Justice extend our deepest sympathies to Chair Chitos’ family and to his incredible team at the CHRP, whose dedication and commitment are a testament to the values held so dearly by Chair Chito. We will continue to support the critical work of the CHRP.
                Photo from Chito Gascon Facebook

                  Urgent call to protect human rights defenders in Indonesia

                  CPJP has joined civil society organisations calling on the Indonesian authorities to put an end to any attempts to thwart freedom of speech and expression against Haris Azhar, the Executive Director of Lokataru and Fatia Maulidiyanti, the National Coordinator of The Commission for Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), and all other human rights defenders in the country. 

                  KontraS is CPJP’s closest partner in work to abolish the death penalty and extra-judicial killings in Indonesia. Their role is fundamentally important for death penalty abolition in the region. The subpoena will have a chilling effect across all areas of human rights work, including for our mission. This is the fundamental reason for our intervention.

                  Please share our joint statement here.

                    Human Rights Day: open letter to the Australian government

                    The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) reached in principle by Japan and Australia provides a legal framework for the Australian Defence Force and the Japanese Self-Defence Force to operate in each other’s territories.

                    However, there has been no public guarantee to date that Australian military personnel would not be subject to the death penalty in Japan.

                    Click here to read and sign our open letter to the Australian government.

                    Capital Punishment Justice Project (CPJP) stands for a world without the death penalty.

                    We work with our volunteers, interns, and board to develop legal and policy solutions that will help save lives.

                    LEGAL REPRESENTATION
                    ADVOCACY AND POLICY WORK
                    VOLUNTEERING

                    WHO WE ARE

                    Capital Punishment Justice Project (CPJP) stands for a world without the death penalty. We work with our partner organisations, volunteers, interns, and board to develop legal and policy solutions that will help save lives.

                    CPJP (formerly Reprieve Australia) was founded in Melbourne, Australia, in 2001 by criminal barristers Richard Bourke and Nick Harrington to provide legal representation and humanitarian assistance to those at risk of execution. Initially, our task was to provide volunteer assistance to capital defence centres in the US and while we remain committed to this essential work, our focus is on challenging the death penalty in Asia. CPJP’s Australian base offers strategic advantages for the work, despite our regional outlook. Australia has identified abolition of the death penalty as one of its human rights priority areas, and there is much that can be done to ensure that Australia is a leading voice on abolition.

                    Our Board is led by Stephen Keim SC and comprises 7 voluntary Board members. We operate on a small budget comprised of donations and grants, which covers our casework, research, policy work, advocacy and educational work.

                    CPJP strives to be practical and effective.  We give our time for free, so we have no time to waste.  Our approach is to be flexible in the ways we assist.  Our strategies focus on providing sensible and sophisticated assistance and support to those working for change, with a particular focus on countries in our region.

                    Expressions of interest for volunteers

                    Learn More