One more step towards universal abolition

Statement

on 20 November 2008

The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty welcomes the adoption by the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly of a second resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the use of the capital punishment.
Supported by an increasing number of co-sponsors countries (89, i.e. two more countries than last year), it reaffirms resolution 62/149 of 18 December 2007, “Moratorium on the use of the death penalty”, and recognizes “the global trend towards the abolition of the death penalty”.
The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty welcomes the increasing votes in favour of the resolution: it was supported by 105 governments (99 in 2007), while 48 voted against it (52 in 2007) and 31 abstained (33 in 2007).
The text of the resolution welcomes “the decisions taken by an increasing number of States to apply a moratorium” as well as the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 62/149 “and the conclusions and recommendations contained therein”. The Secretary-General is requested to provide a report every two years on this issue, notably based on the information produced by Member States.
The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty expresses its deep satisfaction at the adoption of this second resolution by the Third Committee and it now calls on the General Assembly of the United Nations to fully endorse this resolution in its plenary meeting.