CONFERENCE IN SIERRA LEONE ON THE MORATORIUM AND THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY

On 13 and 14 January 2014, is to be held in Freetown, Sierra Leone the Regional Conference on the Moratorium and the Abolition of the Death Penalty. The conference is promoted by the Government of Sierra Leone and by Hands Off Cain thanks to the financial support of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Conference will start at 9:30 am Monday, January 13th at the Miatta Conference Center with the welcoming addresses of the promoters and the presence of the Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino.
Elisabetta Zamparutti, treasurer and Marco Perduca, of the Board of director, will represent Hands Off Cain. It is expected the presence of delegations from Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Rwanda and Senegal. From Asia, there will be a delegation of Mongolia.
They announced their presence also representatives of the civil society of Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger and representatives of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
After the opening addresses the works will split into three thematic sessions: "The death penalty and public opinion", "The death penalty and the rule of law", "The death penalty and international law." On the day of January 14, after the holding of a general debate, the conference is expected to conclude.
The initiative has the dual objective of supporting the abolitionist process underway in Sierra Leone and to raise awareness of the Governments of the area in order to have them support the resolution for a moratorium on executions with a view to the upcoming vote in the General Assembly of 2014.