The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area–Background Paper 2021 to “dismantle and disrupt” the death penalty.61 The founders stated that they no longer wanted to be told the death penalty was the appropriate answer to their pain. The aim of this organization was to convey the idea that not all victims’ families are in favour of the death penalty and that executions, rather than bringing their families closure, in many ways ripped open the wounds all over again.62 CSOs like this are vital in voicing the desires of family members of murder victims with the media, the public, legislators, district attorneys, and other elected officials and policymakers. One of the leading CSOs working for abolition noted that testimony from victim family members is very powerful since they are able to “speak from the heart.”63 The role that victim’s family members played in advocacy for abolition more recently in Virginia was exemplified by 13 family members of murder victims who sent a letter to the General Assembly asking lawmakers to abolish the death penalty in 2019.64 They shared their personal stories to show that criminal justice encompassing the death penalty led to traumatic experiences in a system, “more interested in retribution than meeting their practical needs.”65 A few Virginia politicians who were family members of victims also spoke out publicly against the death penalty.66 In fact, all seven murder victim family members in the General Assembly voted in favour of abolition.67 When faced with victim family members who are opposed to the death penalty, it is much harder to find reasons to justify retaining it.68 One of the most influential organizations for victim’s family members from the United States was also involved in international death penalty abolition advocacy. For example, in 2011, Amnesty International Mongolia organized a speaker tour bringing 61 Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation (MVFR) is a national organization founded in 1976 in response to the reinstatement of capital punishment in the United States that year. Their goal was to ensure that victims’ families’ opposition to the death penalty was voiced and that the many reasons for their opposition to the death penalty were heard. 62 Interview with Mark Warren, op. cit., note 46. 63 Ibid. 64 AP News, Virginia lawmakers vote to abolish the death penalty, 23 February 2021. 65 Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Statement at Death Penalty Abolition Bill Signing Ceremony, 24 March 2021. 66 Sarah Rankin, Virginia Senate passes death penalty abolition bill, Associated Press, 4 February 2021. 67 Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Virginia abolishes the death penalty after 413 years and 1390 executions. 68 Interview with Michael E. Stone, op. cit., note 20. 22