World Day Against the Death Penalty 2026
Date posted: 5th Nov 2026
Mekar had the opportunity to document the commemoration of the World Day Against the Death Penalty 2026 recently on Oct 10.
Held by Anti Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN), MCCHR – Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights & Amnesty International Malaysia, the event saw the screening of the theatrical performance ‘Tali Tukang Gantung’ and a discussion after.
For Deena Dakshayani, acting in the play meant that she had to take constant breaks as the death penalty topic took an emotional toll on her. “What stood out in the production was the grief. I detached emotionally when watching the complete production. It’s a full circle now,” she said.
For Ngeow Chow Ying (Co-Convenor, ADPAN), the process was about discovering which stories to tell. “Humans have a lot of stories” she said, and emphasised that we should look beyond the “heinous” stigma that came with death row inmates and see that they are “just like you and me”.
And for Effa Qamariani (writer/director), the play was an opportunity to bridge her art with activism. “I have the privilege to choose what issues I want to tell society. That’s my role as an artist.”
A panel discussion called “Beyond the Defence: Families, Lawyers and Fair Trial in Death Penalty Cases” was also held.
Morhaneraj Rajakumaran (Co-Chairperson, Bar Council Legal Aid Centre Kuala Lumpur) explained that there is still much awareness-raising to be done in Malaysia to encourage families to participate in legal cases. Families often become involved only when a person is charged in court, but he emphasised that their involvement should begin much earlier, from the moment of arrest.
Tom Temprosa (Regional Director, ADPAN) emphasised that the involvement of families helps humanise people facing the death penalty.
Meanwhile, Mak Tom (mother of a former death row inmate) said her son being on death row took a lot of physical, emotional and financial toll on her, and she thanked ADPAN for the help throughout the process.
Capping the event was the launch of the KL Guidelines. Officially known as the ‘Regional Guidelines for Lawyers Representing Individuals Facing the Death Penalty and Execution in Asia’, the KL Guidelines are a set of Asia-led standards designed to improve the quality of capital defense, strengthen fair trial rights, and address systemic rights violations.
ADPAN is an independent regional network of organisations and individuals dedicated to ending the death penalty in the Asia Pacific.