The Direção-Geral do Livro dos Arquivos e Bibliotecas – Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo will host, on the 30th of April 2026, the international conference of the project "Heritage of Hope: The Abolitionist Legacy in Europe".
This initiative, co-funded by the European Union, is the result of a strategic collaboration between three sites distinguished with the European Heritage Label: the Portuguese sites "Abolição da Pena de Morte", the Biblioteca Geral da Universidade de Coimbra, and the Arquivo da Coroa de Aragão (Barcelona, Spain).
The "Heritage of Hope" project explores the historical trajectory of the abolition of the death penalty in the Iberian Peninsula, through a transnational and multidisciplinary approach. The narrative focuses on the biographies of abolitionist figures — many of them jurists trained at the Universidade de Coimbra — whose ideas had a significant impact on the evolution of the legal and intellectual thought of the time.
In addition to the European Heritage Label partners, the project includes the participation of CIES-Iscte, responsible for scientific coordination, and the support of Amnistia Internacional, reinforcing the civic and educational dimension of the initiative. More than evoking a historical past, this conference aims to promote a space for broad reflection and debate, bringing together European experts and academics to discuss the abolition of the death penalty in Europe from a historical and comparative perspective, analysing the political, social, cultural and legal transformations associated with its end.
By connecting this shared heritage to contemporary challenges, the initiative reaffirms the fundamental role of the European Heritage Label in fostering a more aware and cohesive European citizenship.
Attendance at this conference is free of charge, but registration is mandatory (until the 27th of April at 5:00 PM), which can be completed through the registration form.
