EUROPEAN UNION. EU URGES MALAWI TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY

the European Union (EU) urged Malawi to continue its effort to abolish the death sentence saying the fact that the country had not undertaken any execution since 1992 was an important step deserving support. In a statement commemorating the World Death Penalty Day, British High Commissioner to Malawi David Pearey, whose country was the current president of EU, said the EU was strongly opposed to the death penalty as it was a violation of the right to life and that it was the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
“This irrevocable punishment causes intense physical pain and suffering at the moment of execution and in the long process starting from the moment the death sentence is pronounced. “The EU considers that the death penalty does not serve as an effective deterrent and any miscarriage of justice, which is inevitable in any legal system sometimes have led to the execution of innocent people,” said Pearey.
Pearey said one of the priorities of the UK during its EU presidency was to encourage the abolition of capital punishment in third world countries.
“We believe that the 1992 moratorium on death sentences and executions is a first and massive step towards the abolition of the death penalty in Malawi. We encourage all Malawians to support the government’s commitment in this global effort to abolish capital punishment,” said Pearey.
He also said the EU was encouraged by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Henry Phoya for his assurance that government would use the forthcoming constitutional conference to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty.