November 30th is Cities for Life Day

Cities for Life is a campaign led by the Community of Sant’Egidio that supports the abolition of the death penalty all over the world and promotes the culture of life. Every November 30th the Cities for Life Against the Death Penalty Day commemorates the first abolition of the capital punishment, which took place in 1786 in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

The concept of the abolishment of capital punishment was first mentioned in a 1764 treatise written by Cesare Beccaria, in which he argued against the death penalty as punishment. Beccaria is noted for his masterpiece on criminal law and the reform system, “On Crimes and Punishments”, which he published in 1764. In fact, the work is so notable that it has been translated into 22 languages. Beccaria put forth some of the first modern arguments against the death penalty, which made it the first full-scale work to tackle criminal reform and to suggest that criminal justice should comply with rational principles. Beccaria also argued against torture, believing it was cruel and unnecessary to treat another human being in such a way.

There is one thing no force on earth can take away from each of us, and that is our right to live. That was, however, not the case in our justice system, when the death penalty was established. This brash criminal punishment is as old as human civilization and was more popular than we would like to admit.

Cities for Life is a major world mobilization so people do not forget that several countries still keep this cruel and inhumane punishment. It wants to show there is a higher and more civilized justice capable of abandoning capital punishment once and for all.

Life is a human right - The right to live is simply human. It is unjust to put the power to kill someone in someone else’s hands, regardless of the crime.

The justice system must be fair - There have been too many executions that didn’t match with the severity of the crimes committed and too many based on false accusations. Some people would even propose that death is an easier punishment, and all criminals should serve due time for their crimes.

You can observe Cities for Life Day in the following ways:

1. Light a candle - Today, participating cities illuminate a symbolic monument, such as the Atomium in Brussels, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Plaza de Santa Ana in Madrid. Pay your respects by joining in and lighting a candle from the comfort of your home, in honor of the souls that have passed, and to show your support for the cause.
2. Inform yourself on current laws and legislation you can support to abolish the death penalty - There are so many things to be learned and uncovered concerning the application of the death penalty. Spend the day doing your research, digging deep into the justice system to learn how far we’ve come, and how far we still need to go.
3. Spread the word - If you are part of the justice system in any way, use this day to spread the word of enlightenment and change. If you aren’t, you can still give your two cents, or do your research and document your findings.