UN resolution: the abolitionist front grows stronger again

International standards

on 22 December 2010

Supported by an increasing number of co-sponsor countries, it reaffirms resolutions 62/149 and 63/168 of 18 December 2007 and 2008, “Moratorium on the use of the death penalty”, and recognizes the global trend towards the abolition of the death penalty.
In Asia, the largest retentionist area in the world, a breakthrough occurred. Mongolia and Thailand had previously voted against the resolution and signed a statement of dissociation but respectively voted in favour and abstained for the first time this year.
Bhutan and Maldives, which had abstained before, voted in favour of this third resolution.
In the Arab countries, the positive trend that started in 2008 continued: Algeria officially co sponsored the resolution and seven other Arab countries abstained for the second time. 

Increasing support

The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty welcomes the increasing support for the resolution (+3) and congratulates the 109 governments that voted in favour. The World Coalition regrets that 41 (-5) voted against the Resolution and that 35 (+1) abstained. 7 were absent. 
The text of the new resolution welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 63/168 and welcomes the steps taken by some countries to reduce the use of the death penalty. The Secretary-General is requested to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on the implementation of this third resolution.
Another resolution on a moratorium will be then further discussed under the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights” in 2012.