UN set for key death penalty vote
Posted December 9, 2007 - 8:50am
The world is set to take a giant leap towards the abolition of the death penalty worldwide in a crucial UN vote.
The UN vote is expected to endorse a decision to establish a moratorium (a suspension) on executions worldwide. It is anticipated to take place on the morning of 18 December, at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Amnesty International continues to campaign hard for the resolution to reach more than 100 states to support its final adoption.
The passing of the UN resolution is a turning point in campaign against the death penalty. 133 countries (two-thirds of the world) have abolished the death penalty either in law or practice. In 1948, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, only eight countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes.
A significant milestone was reached recently on the path to a death penalty free world. The resolution was adopted successfully on 15 November by the UNGA’s Third Committee. The vote resulted in 99 countries in favour and 52 against, with 33 abstentions.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception. The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights - the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice. It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
Amnesty International calls on all countries still using the death penalty to establish an immediate moratorium on executions and stop the death penalty once and for all.
The UN vote is expected to endorse a decision to establish a moratorium (a suspension) on executions worldwide. It is anticipated to take place on the morning of 18 December, at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Amnesty International continues to campaign hard for the resolution to reach more than 100 states to support its final adoption.
The passing of the UN resolution is a turning point in campaign against the death penalty. 133 countries (two-thirds of the world) have abolished the death penalty either in law or practice. In 1948, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, only eight countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes.
A significant milestone was reached recently on the path to a death penalty free world. The resolution was adopted successfully on 15 November by the UNGA’s Third Committee. The vote resulted in 99 countries in favour and 52 against, with 33 abstentions.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception. The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights - the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice. It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
Amnesty International calls on all countries still using the death penalty to establish an immediate moratorium on executions and stop the death penalty once and for all.
Read More
Breakthrough UN resolution on global moratorium on executions (News, 15 November 2007)
Stop the death penalty: Worldwide abolition now (Feature, 31 October 2007)
External links (Amnesty International is not responsible for the content of external sites):
Help the UN General Assembly endorse a global moratorium (World Coalition website)
