On 22 June 2001, participants to the first World Congress Against the Death Penalty, an event held by French non-government organization (NGO) Ensemble contre la peine de mort,[1] adopted the Strasbourg Declaration in the hemicycle of the Council of Europe.

After several preparatory meetings in Paris and Brussels, organizations convened in Rome on 13 May 2002 to officially create the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

A first Steering Committee composed of 11 members, in charge of defining the World Coalition's political strategy, was elected then renewed at each General Assembly.

[3][4] Since 2007, the World Coalition has been encouraging United Nations member states to vote in favor of the resolution of the UN General Assembly on a moratorium on executions.

The World Coalition helps its members organize initiatives and advocacy missions to prevent abolitionist countries from restoring capital punishment in law or carrying out new executions.