DEATH PENALTY: ITALIAN RESOLUTION APPROVED BY ANNUAL OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

July 1, 2009: the Resolution for the moratorium on capital executions and for the abolition of the death penalty, presented by Radical Deputy Matteo Mecacci and supported by the Italian Parliamentary delegation, was approved by a large majority at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Annual Parliamentary Assembly being held in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The Resolution was cosponsored by more than 30 Parliamentarians from 14 countries (including the United States), and it was approved by a large majority. The only votes against it came from two American Parliamentarians, with the Belarusian and Russian delegates
abstaining.
Italian Parliamentarians that supported the resolution include the President of the Italian delegation Riccardo Migliori, parliamentarians Emerenzio Barbieri, Claudio D’Amico, Pierluigi Mantini and Guglielmo Picchi, and senators Laura Allegrini and Andrea Marcucci.
The first signatory of the Resolution, Radical Deputy Matteo Mecacci, said:
“I believe that this is an important day on the long road towards the elimination of the death penalty. The Radical Party and Hands Off Cain have been driving this fight for more than 15 years, with the support of the Italian Parliament. After the approval by the UN General Assembly in 2007, Italy today signs a new international success that pushes the last two countries that apply the death penalty in the OSCE area (the United States and Belorussia) towards a moratorium on capital punishment.
I want to emphasise that three American Parliamentary delegates expressed in favour of the resolution: Republican Chris Smith, and Democrats Ben Cardin and Gwen Moore. This is an important signal by the American legislators that encourages and supports us. It surely
reflects the emergence of a greater attention and awareness of human rights by the Obama Administration.” (Sources: HOC, 01/07/2009)