France to push for worldwide end to death penalty

France was the 35th country in the world to outlaw the death sentence

France will launch a campaign for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty. Picture: AP Photo/Daniel Cole

France will launch a campaign for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty as part of its upcoming presidency of the European Union, President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday.

A conference will be held in Paris gathering civil society groups from countries where the death penalty is in use or suspended, Macron said in a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of France's abolition of the punishment.