World Day against Death Penalty

Last Wednesday was World Day against the Death Penalty. The death penalty has been abolished in the EU. The Union insists that other countries follow suit.

Amnesty International claims that last year people were sentenced to death in 55 countries. Executions were carried out in 25 countries. Ninety-one per cent of the 1,591 executions recorded by Amnesty International took place in just six countries: China, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan and the US.

In November 2007, the UN General Assembly will vote on a resolution calling for a global moratorium on executions. Amnesty has identified seven governments whose votes could be influential.

EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering reminded the public last Wednesday that the European Parliament opposed the death penalty.

"We thank all countries that have abolished the death penalty, in particular, Rwanda.  We also call on China to break its 'wall of silence' on the use of the death penalty. We appeal for support for the EU-sponsored UN resolution and for all countries to support it in New York."

Mr Pöttering recalled that the European Parliament has in fact adopted three resolutions on the abolition of the death penalty this year, adding further: "We pay tribute to all victims of the death penalty."  MEPs observed a minute's silence in their memory.