organisations and national human rights institutions, lawyers can play a pivotal role in challenging structural conditions that enable abuse and pushing for policy changes that strengthen protections for individuals facing the death penalty. 21. Lawyers must rigorously challenge the admissibility of any evidence obtained through torture, coercion, violence, other forms of ill-treatment, or other unlawful means. The reliance on such evidence fundamentally undermines the integrity of legal proceedings and increases the risk of wrongful convictions. Courts have a duty to exclude evidence obtained through coercion or unlawful means, and lawyers must ensure that this obligation is strictly enforced. In capital cases, where the stakes are highest, lawyers must scrutinise the methods by which evidence—particularly confessions—is obtained. They must conduct a thorough assessment into the circumstances of evidence collection, ensuring that interrogation practices, detention conditions, and the use of coercive tactics are rigorously examined. Where violations occur, lawyers must demand full disclosure of interrogation logs, medical examination reports, and detention facility records to substantiate claims of illtreatment. Excluding tainted evidence is not only a procedural necessity but a fundamental safeguard against unfair trials and miscarriages of justice. Beyond courtroom advocacy, lawyers should proactively engage with independent forensic and medical experts to provide credible documentation of torture or coercion. Expert testimony and forensic analysis can provide compelling evidence to support exclusion motions and highlight systemic flaws within the investigative or prosecutorial process. Where necessary, they should also petition national and international human rights bodies to intervene, particularly in cases where systemic abuses are prevalent. Lawyers must push for mandatory safeguards, such as video recordings of interrogations, independent oversight of custodial procedures, and legal frameworks that impose accountability for the use of forced confessions. Strategic litigation challenging coercive practices can serve as a catalyst for broader institutional reforms, reinforcing protections for all accused individuals, especially those facing the death penalty. In the longer term, lawyers should work toward institutional reforms that eliminate coercive interrogation practices and strengthen safeguards against torture. This includes advocating for greater transparency in interrogation procedures, mandatory video recordings of all custodial questioning, and more robust oversight mechanisms. By challenging abusive practices at both individual and systemic levels, lawyers help ensure that justice is not only done but also seen to be done, reinforcing public trust in the legal system and upholding the rule of law. Safeguarding the Health and Well-Being of Clients 22. Lawyers should actively monitor and advocate for the physical and mental health and well-being of their clients, recognising that the conditions of detention and prison, combined with the trauma of impending execution, can result in severe psychological distress and rapid health deterioration. Prison conditions, including overcrowding, poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation, solitary confinement and prolonged isolation on death row, exacerbate both physical and psychological vulnerabilities. Many capital defendants already suffer from pre-existing March 2025 13