Consulate General of France and Sister Helen Prejean Join PJI in the Human Rights Effort to End the Death Penalty in Louisiana

Sister Helen Prejean and the Consul General of France discuss ways in which Louisiana can lead the south to dismantle capital punishment.

On January 9, 2020, the Consul General of France, Vincent Sciama, hosted The Promise of Justice Initiative, Sister Helen Prejean, and community members at the Residence de France. Consul General Sciama, Denise LeBoeuf, PJI Executive Director Mercedes Montagnes, and Sister Helen Prejean invited the crowd to learn about the death penalty, and how crucial repealing the death penalty is for Louisiana to move forward as a leader in the deep south. 

France has been a tremendous partner to Louisiana, as an investor, and as a close cultural connection to the rich tapestry of French culture we see throughout the state.  France has a rich history of death penalty abolition work dating back to the 1700’s. On October 9, 1981, the abolishment of the death penalty in France passed into law. 

France, its European partners, and the United Nations all are working towards the abolition of the death penalty and support human rights activists world wide in the campaign for the abolition of the death penalty.