Attorney General Advocates for Global Abolition of the Death Penalty at HRC58

26 February 2025

By Kenneth K Nyika

At the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Zimbabwe’s Attorney-General, Mrs. Virginia Mabhiza, called for the universal abolition of the death penalty, emphasizing the need for judicial systems to prioritize the protection of the right to life.

Her remarks comes during the opening days of the session, which runs from February 24 to April 4, 2025, and brings together international leaders, human rights experts, and advocates to discuss pressing global human rights issues.

In her address to the panel, Mabhiza made a compelling case for judicial discretion in favor of life sentences, urging courts worldwide to develop jurisprudence that upholds human dignity and emphasizes rehabilitation over capital punishment. She also criticized the prolonged stays on death row, describing them as cruel and inhumane.

“We must move beyond de facto abolition and embrace total abolition,” Mabhiza stated. “The prolonged confinement of individuals on death row, in itself, constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment, causing undeniable suffering. States must be urged to adopt complete abolition. This is a journey that demands a multi-sectoral approach, with both the judiciary and the legislature playing crucial roles.”

Mabhiza’s call is part of a broader global conversation at the 58th session, where issues like the abolition of the death penalty, the rights of persons with disabilities, and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action are being discussed.