Cameroonian lawmaker Cabral Libii seized the platform at the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris to champion a progressive end to capital punishment in his country.

The legislator argued that a society that truly upholds democratic values must balance the protection of life, the pursuit of justice, public safety, and adherence to the rule of law. “The challenge isn’t just ending the death penalty—it’s building institutions strong enough to ensure justice inspires trust without resorting to the irreversible,” he emphasized.

Libii, who joined over 130 justice ministers and parliamentarians from diverse nations, highlighted Cameroon’s de facto moratorium on executions since 1997 as a positive step. While the death penalty remains on the books, the absence of actual executions over nearly three decades signals progress worth building upon.

His advocacy rested on five key pillars:

1. Life as a core value: Two-thirds of countries worldwide are moving toward reducing reliance on capital punishment. This global trend, Libii noted, presents an opportunity to reshape criminal justice priorities.
2. Justice beyond retribution: Taking a life in response to crime undermines opportunities for repentance, denies perpetrators the full weight of their actions, and risks irreversible miscarriages of justice.
3. Context-driven reform: Each nation must navigate its own historical, cultural, and security realities. Sustainable abolition requires internal democratic processes, strong institutions, and broad societal buy-in—making public education and sensitization efforts vital.
4. Moratorium as progress: Cameroon’s long-standing unofficial halt on executions demonstrates a meaningful shift in practice, even if the legal framework hasn’t yet caught up.
5. Justice reform over severity: Combating crime effectively depends on a justice system that is independent, fair, and respectful of fundamental rights—not merely on harsher penalties. This, Libii contended, is the foundation of his campaign in Cameroon.

He concluded, “A genuinely democratic society is one that harmonizes the protection of life, the demands of justice, citizen security, and respect for the rule of law. The task ahead isn’t just abolishing the death penalty—it’s constructing institutions so robust that justice commands confidence without ever needing to resort to the irreversible.”