As the world marks the World Day Against the Death Penalty 2020 on October 10, Avocats Sans Frontières France joins the global call for an end of the use of the death penalty.

The theme for this year’s celebration: Access to counsel: a matter of life or death highlights the crucial role defence attorneys play in the outcome capital cases.

Lawyers who handle sensitive cases involving human life require training, support and adequate resources to effectively represent their clients.

Access to legal representation in capital cases is a pillar of the right to fair trial and must be guaranteed by all judicial systems not just in letters but also in practice.

As part of its contribution to the effective representation of capital cases in Nigeria, Avocats Sans Frontières France provided specialised training to its support lawyers under the SAVING LIVES project – SALI.

This equipped the lawyers to provide pro bono legal aid to 149 persons facing the death penalty across seven states in Nigeria.

Between 2018 and 2020 ASF France has trained 59 capital defence lawyers in Nigeria with the latest batch between 7 and 8 October 2020 in a debut virtual training session for 20 Nigerian lawyers with the Support of the French Embassy in Nigeria.

Head of Office of Avocats Sans Frontières France in Nigeria, Angela Uwandu, said while the world continues to move away from the use of this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, countries such as Nigeria that still retain it in their laws are urged to ensure persons facing the death penalty receive the best form of quality and effective legal representation.

This also translates to a call for better funding for the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria to strengthen its crucial role in the provision of legal aid to indigent persons in capital cases, she added.

ASF France reiterates its commitment to enhancing access to justice for persons facing the death penalty in Nigeria.