DEATH PENALTY: PRODI EXPRESSES HOPE FOR THE MORATORIUM AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE HOC REPORT

August 30, 2007: Prime Minister Romano Prodi attended the ceremony for the presentation of the 2007 Hands Off Cain report on the death penalty that took place at the Radical party headquarters. On the issue of the Universal Moratorium to the UN, he said that its success is not guaranteed but hopes are high, he thanked the European Union for its support and acknowledged the politically calculated risk. The President of the Council is optimistic on a positive conclusion to the Italian fight for the Universal Moratorium. He also has faith in the General Assembly meeting in September when the resolution will be presented, something Italy has fought for for 14 years.
'I seriously believe that it is a fight with high hopes of success', Prodi affirmed during the presentation. In a message sent to Hands Off Cain, the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano emphasised that 'justice must never mean revenge, it must always safeguard dignity and the sanctity of human life.'
Prodi presented the 'Abolitionist of the Year' award to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who ordered the abolition of capital punishment in Rwanda on June 26, 2006. The Prime Minister reminded that 'in the past, our objective was almost reached, but this time we have assumed the political risk with the awareness that we are not fighting an easy battle. Obviously, success isn't guaranteed, but we can boast much stronger support of our initiative than before, since gaining the support of the EU. The long and systematic work of the Italian diplomacy has a good chance of being rewarded.'
Acknowledging the historic commitment of the Radicals and Hands Off Cain against the death penalty (the report was presented by the curator Elisabetta Zamparutti and by Sergio D'Elia, the Secretary of the association), Prodi emphasised that the struggle for the moratorium is 'a battle for civilisation.' However, it was not an easy struggle as many countries still use the death penalty extensively, for example the USA, China and Iran. The number of countries that haven't accepted the Moratorium is still very strong, but we count on the support of European countries, and many African and in Latin America.' (Sources:Adnkronos, 30/08/2007)