HANDS OFF CAIN WELCOMES KENYA’S INTENTION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

Hands Off Cain welcomes the declaration by the newly appointed Kenyan Justice Minister that Kenya will abolish the death penalty within the next six months. The statement reinforces the abolitionist camp which we hope will successfully approve the resolution for a universal moratorium on capital executions to be put before the next UN General Assembly. The Kenyan decision, which follows the first democratic elections in the country, confirms how the fight for the abolition of the death penalty increasingly coincides with the fight for the strengthening of democracy. Hands Off Cain believes the Italian government should sustain Kenya in this process both bilaterally and multilaterally and particularly on a European level. Hands Off Cain is closely following all developments on the African continent. Following the mission to Nigeria (October 2002) Hands Off Cain has written to Minister Frattini asking him to intervene in regards to the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila who is to decide on the fate of 26 people condemned to death in connection with his father’s murder two years ago. Tomorrow Hands Off Cain will meet be the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo to deliver a letter of appeal to President Kabila.