Strasbourg, 22 April 2026 – The Unified European Left (UEL) group has successfully won the Parliamentary Assembly’s majority for its proposed amendment to the report “Towards the universal abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances.”
Now, the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s expert legal advisory body, is formally requesed to issue an opinion on the compatibility of a law adopted by the Israeli Knesset on 30 March 2026 with the key norms of the European Convention on Human Rights and the constitutional standards observed by Council of Europe member States.
“Even where there are clear indications that the law stands in opposition to fundamental human rights principles, a formal Venice Commission opinion plays a crucial role. The Commission’s findings would provide respected, objective legal analysis which can strengthen international legitimacy for those challenging the law and could support both Israeli civil society groups, domestic opposition and international human rights advocates in their efforts,” said the co-President of the UEL group, Ms Laura Castel.
The UEL group’s initiative underlines the importance of upholding universal human rights through robust legal scrutiny, reinforcing efforts to ensure legislative transparency, accountability, and the protection of fundamental freedoms. The opinion will provide a well-documented basis for continued dialogue and action.