09 November 2016 :

After a series of meetings in Kenya and Zambia, the mission of Hands Off Cain in Africa in view of the resolution for a moratorium on executions at the United Nations General Assembly is successfully continuing in Malawi. Today the delegation headed by Antonio Stango (member of the Board of Hands Off Cain and President of the Italian League for Human Rights), and whose members include Eleonora Mongelli, Yuliya Vassilyeva and Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan (Vice President of the World Coalition against the Death Penalty) met in the capital of Malawi the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Francis Lazalo Kasaila, and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Samuel Tembenu.
The Foreign Minister announced that Malawi, which had abstained in previous votes, this year will vote in favor of the moratorium.
As it was noticed in both meetings, Malawi, which since 1993 has observed a de facto moratorium on executions, may perform in the near future other significant steps towards abolition. However, to this end a gradually growing consensus among the population will be necessary. The Foreign Minister noted that it would be important to develop, with the help of organizations such as Hands Off Cain, information programs involving the civil society.
According to Antonio Stango, "The position of Malawi is part of a positive trend in Africa. On the opportunity for their respective states to vote in favor of the resolution for a moratorium on executions at the UN General Assembly, we found attention also in Kenya, particularly by the Attorney General, Githu Muigai, and in Zambia, where we discussed this issue with parliamentarians, with the Minister of Justice Given Lubinda, with the Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore George Mpundu, with the National Commission for Human Rights, and with representatives of numerous associations".
The delegation of Hands Off Cain will arrive tomorrow in Swaziland.