Fighting the Death Penalty from Australia

Read this excellent journal article by Stephen Keim SC - CPJP’s Chair - on the importance of opposing the death penalty, and its continuing relevance in Australia, a country that abolished this cruel practice many years ago.

“While the death penalty is being exercised against anyone in the world, it is an affront to us as human beings. Especially, it is an affront to us as human rights lawyers. It is relevant to each and every one of us.”

Published in the 30th anniversary edition of Pandora's Box, the Annual Academic Journal of the University of Queensland's Justice and the Law Society, Stephen’s article outlines the work of Australian-based anti-death penalty organisations including Australians Against Capital Punishment, the Julian Wagner Memorial Fund and CPJP.

As Stephen concludes:

“While opposing executions and the death penalty has moments that are frustrating and traumatic when particular efforts are not successful, the work also provides great satisfaction. …we are all diminished by the deaths of others, particularly when those deaths are inflicted in cold blood by the state. Those of us involved in opposing the death penalty feel very fortunate that we have been given the opportunity to oppose such a cruel and inhuman and degrading punishment.”

Stephen Keim SC works as a barrister from chambers in Brisbane and Hobart. He has always had an abomination for the death penalty and a love of progressive causes. This is reflected in his role as Chair of CPJP and in his patronage of two Brisbane anti-death penalty organisations, Australians Against Capital Punishment and the Julian Wagner Memorial Fund.