Description

While they may make up only part of a larger advocacy strategy, parliamentarians and the abolition of the death penalty go hand in hand. In many countries, parliamentarians are the bridge between citizens and policy and law-making. This important role goes both ways; not only can they ensure that the best interests of the public are met, but they can also use their platform to inform and raise awareness with their constituents. In the case of death penalty abolition, laws prohibiting the use of capital punishment, reducing the scope of the death penalty, or finalizing a country’s commitment to abolition by signing international treaties are all crucial steps toward universal abolition.

This how-to manual is divided in two main chapters. The first chapter is dedicated to introducing parliamentarians on the African continent and around the world. What is parliament? What can parliamentarians do? What can’t they do? This section aims to give context for understanding who parliamentarians are, how to engage with them and thus provide reference points for the rest of the guide. The second chapter delves more deeply into potential entry points for civil society actors and concrete advocacy techniques they can use when trying to meet with parliamentarians, and then how to work with them over the course of their administration.