Every year on 10 October, the international community marks the World Day Against the Death Penalty . It is a moment of reflection on the meaning of justice, on the value of human dignity, and on the ways societies across the globe are evolving in their approaches to punishment and reconciliation. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, no executions have taken place for more than three decades. This quiet but meaningful fact speaks to a commitment to restraint and respect for life. While