Addressing delegates at the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris, Cameroonian lawmaker Cabral Libii championed a progressive end to capital punishment in his home country.

A true democratic society, Libii argued, must balance the protection of life, justice, citizen safety, and adherence to the rule of law. “The challenge is not merely to abolish the death penalty but to build institutions strong enough that justice inspires trust without resorting to the irreversible.”

Libii, who joined over 130 international officials, legislators, and justice ministers at the Paris gathering, highlighted Cameroon’s unique position: while the death penalty remains on the books, no executions have been carried out since 1997. This de facto abolition, he noted, reflects a global trend—two-thirds of nations have moved toward reducing reliance on capital punishment.

In his address, Libii outlined five key arguments for Cameroon’s gradual transition:

• Preservation of life as a core value: The global shift toward minimizing state-sanctioned killing deserves serious consideration. Taking a life—even as punishment for a crime—undermines opportunities for redemption, reconciliation, and correction of judicial errors.
• Context matters: Each nation’s journey toward abolition must be rooted in its historical, cultural, and security realities. Sustainable change requires internal democratic processes, national institutions, and societal buy-in. Public education and advocacy by elected leaders and civil society are essential.
• Cameroon’s silent progress: For nearly three decades, Cameroon has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions. This quiet evolution deserves recognition and encouragement.
• Justice over severity: Effective crime prevention depends on fair, impartial, and efficient justice systems—not merely harsh penalties. A robust judiciary that upholds fundamental rights is the cornerstone of security.
• Global standards with local adaptation: Advancing human rights must align with national realities to ensure legitimacy and accelerate meaningful, incremental progress.

The debate over the death penalty, Libii concluded, should not pit human rights advocates against security hawks. Instead, a thriving democracy harmonizes life protection, justice, citizen security, and legal integrity. “Abolishing the death penalty is just the beginning—building trustworthy institutions is the ultimate goal.”