ITALIA

the Committee for the Abolition of the Death Penalty presented its conclusive report to the Italian Senate. “I have always thought that a civilised country cannot maintain the death penalty in its constitution. I’ve always held this belief and I’m glad to be able to renew and testify to my conviction here,” President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi said. He thanked Senate president Nicola Mancino and the Senator Ersilia Salvato for their commitment. Mancino augured that the UN General Assembly will vote to approve the international moratorium on the death penalty. He hoped that it will eventually be banned worldwide. The Committee for the Abolition of the Death Penalty was set up in 1998 following a request by Hands off Cain.