21 November 2024 :
November 18, 2024 - EUROPEAN UNION. EU Statement – UN General Assembly: After the vote on the draft resolution on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
European Union general statement after the vote at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the Draft resolution on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty A/C.3/79/L.37
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, as well as, Andorra and San Marino align themselves with this statement.
The EU and all its Member States are proud members of the Inter-Regional Task Force that presents this biannual resolution in the Third Committee. We thank all Member States who voted yes to this important resolution today.
The result of today’s vote clearly demonstrates the continued momentum to realize the promise and commitment to abolish capital punishment, as set out in Article 6.2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The growing support for the resolution solidifies the emerging international consensus and understanding that the death penalty is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment that is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and human dignity.
This understanding is also clearly supported by evidence. The UN Secretary General’s report on the use of the death penalty highlights that the death penalty continues to be applied in ways that do not conform to States’ obligations under international law. An ever-growing body of evidence that shows that the death penalty remains infected with injustice. It is used in a discriminatory manner against the poor and most marginalized, who are often not in a position to defend themselves. There is no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value of the death penalty. Any miscarriage or failure of justice in the implementation of the death penalty is irreversible and irreparable.
To date, 3/4 of all countries, some 144 states, have recognized this and have already abolished the death penalty, either in law or practice. Last year, the number of countries that carried out executions reached the lowest figure on record. At the same time, we are deeply concerned about the increase of reported executions last year – an increase that has been driven by a few states that retain the death penalty. But the overall global trend is clear: Retentionist countries are becoming fewer and increasingly isolated.
The cross-regional support that the moratorium resolution enjoys shows that taking steps towards the abolition of the death penalty is not a matter of “culture” or “tradition”. States from all regions of the world, with different legal systems, traditions, cultures and religious backgrounds, have abolished the death penalty. It is a question of political will and commitment to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights, without discrimination.
Lastly, we to thank our co-facilitators, Italy and Argentina, for their hard work and efforts this year to try to find consensual ground around the resolution. Thank you.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union’s diplomatic service.
