Bayside Community Care believes capital punishment is an inhuman form of justice and punishment.
Through direct experience walking alongside individuals on death row, the organisation uses its voice to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty.
Deputy Chairperson of Bayside Community Care, Rev. Christie Buckingham, experienced this firsthand while serving as the spiritual advisor to Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran in the lead-up to his execution. Myuran, along with Andrew Chan, had become men who demonstrated genuine rehabilitation and transformation, yet their lives were still taken. The organisation has also walked alongside British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford, who received clemency in 2025.
Amnesty International recorded at least 1,518 executions across 15 countries in 2024 — a 32% increase from the previous year.
Bayside Community Care is a proud partner of the Capital Punishment Justice Project, which advocates for a world without the death penalty. The organisation provides people facing capital punishment with access to legal expertise, humanitarian assistance, diplomatic support, and practical help for their families.
While the death penalty does not exist in Australia, it remains a critical issue for Australians travelling or living in countries where it is still enforced.
