In 2016, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) adopted a ‘Declaration Calling for Reform of the Penal System Including Abolition of the Death Penalty’ (the Declaration), which calls for an immediate moratorium leading to the abolition of the death penalty by 2020 to coincide with Japan hosting the UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Key questions identified by the Declaration include: When a crime is committed, how should we deal with it? How can offenders come to feel and express genuine remorse for their crimes and avoid reoffending? How can we ensure that our criminal justice systems contribute to the recovery of humanity and the rehabilitation and social inclusion of offenders, based on the inherent dignity and value of convicted persons as human beings? These questions recognise the death penalty as a symptom of imperfect criminal and penal systems that too often prioritise punishment while neglecting rehabilitation and reintegration. This session focuses on the complex problem of death penalty abolition in Asia, including the role of bar associations in making the case for change. Speakers from across the world exchange views and share experience of relevant activities to explore the overall purpose of criminal justice, with a central focus on the death penalty.