RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT ABOLITION AND HUMAN RIGHTS: ECPM’S education program
Created in 2009, ECPM’s abolition education program aims to raise young people’s awareness about the abolition of the death penalty and to create a space for respectful and constructive dialogue. To achieve this, various tools and methodologies are offered: online lesson modules, support for classroom projects, school interventions, testimonies, and more. Although the ECPM education program is mainly run in its target regions, it has exceptionally expanded to Blois, in the Centre-Val de Loire region, for the renaming of Augustin-Thierry High School, which officially became the Robert Badinter International High School on January 30.
ECPM’S SCHOOL INTERVENTIONS IN BLOIS : An Engaging Dialogue Between ECPM and the Students
The ECPM team implemented two days of interventions on February 3 and 4, led by Jeanne Maneuvrier, Education Project Officer, and Frédérique Delaugerre, volunteer and member of ECPM’s Board of Directors. In total, 81 students from first-year and final-year classes participated in four interactive sessions.
During the two-hour sessions, students had the opportunity to express their thoughts and engage in discussions on the topics of the death penalty and human rights in a respectful and open environment. The interventions were designed around interactive activities, covering ECPM’s abolitionist arguments, the history of abolition in France, and the global state of the death penalty. Jeanne and Frédérique had insightful exchanges with the students, who demonstrated great interest in the subject, particularly regarding its application in the United States. The case of Melissa Lucio was also examined in several classes in 2025, raising numerous questions. Additionally, some students had already been introduced to the issue through ECPM’s “Faces of Abolition” project.
To mark the school’s renaming, the students participated in an activity on the historical process of abolition in France. Working first in small groups and then in a plenary session, they reflected on the key steps that led to abolition and identified historical figures associated with this fight. These discussions provided a comparative perspective, allowing students to examine abolition processes in other European Union states and worldwide. Many were particularly surprised by how long it took France to abolish the death penalty, as they had assumed it was a pioneer on this issue.
During the awareness sessions, students also reacted to ECPM’s arguments and the global situation of the death penalty. They were particularly shocked by the reasons for conviction, as well as the discriminatory aspects of judicial systems. Some were especially struck by the argument about revenge :
“Justice cannot punish murder by killing people.” – Student
Others were affected by the conditions of detention and execution methods:
“It’s inhumane and not even effective in reducing crime rates.” – Student
Many were surprised by the reality of political practices surrounding the death penalty worldwide. After these rich discussions, the students were informed about current death penalty cases, particularly the imminent transfer of Serge Atlaoui.
FOSTERING CONNECTION WITH THE TEACHING TEAMS
ECPM’s visit for these interventions was initiated by Ms. White, an English teacher. The school’s teaching staff had already collaborated with ECPM’s education team in 2022 through a student correspondence project with Melissa Lucio. This initiative followed a screening of the documentary The State of Texas vs. Melissa, directed by Sabrina Van Tassel.
The students were able to work in advance on the death penalty, particularly in the American context, and on the issue of discrimination which is inherent to the country. The school’s commitment to raising awareness among its pupils is reflected in the significant investment made by the educational teams in organizing the events.
