China: Capital Punishment

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office written question – answered at on 7 April 2025.

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Photo of Lord Alton of Liverpool Lord Alton of Liverpool Chair, Human Rights (Joint Committee), Chair, Human Rights (Joint Committee)

To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that China has used the death penalty on four Canadian citizens this year, whether they will direct the Great Britain–China Centre to suspend its training and cooperation with members of China's judiciary until executions cease.

Photo of Baroness Chapman of Darlington Baroness Chapman of Darlington Minister of State (Development)

The UK is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. This Government believes that the death penalty's use undermines human dignity, that there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value, and that any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable.

Great Britain-China Centre (GBCC) has for many years worked to reduce the application of the death penalty in China, with the ultimate goal of abolition, by providing technical legal training to defence lawyers and support to legislative reforms that restrict the use of the death penalty. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not provide funding to this work within GBCC's Grant-in-Aid.

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