PRESENTATION OF HANDS OFF CAIN’S 2012 REPORT ‘THE DEATH PENALTY WORLDWIDE’

ELISABETTA ZAMPARUTTI, MP, Editor of Hands Off Cain’s 2012 Report  

Hands Off Cain's 2012 Report, edited by Reality Book, presents the most important facts regarding the practice of the death penalty in 2011 and in the first six months of 2012. Data shows that China, Iran and Saudi Arabia were the top three “Executioner-Countries” in the world in 2011, while also demonstrating a positive evolution towards the abolition of the death penalty which has been developing worldwide during recent years. During the presentation, Hands Off Cain will also discuss the objectives of its ongoing campaign for a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty in Africa, and proposals to strengthen the new Pro-Moratorium Resolution that will be voted by the UN General Assembly in December 2012. The “Abolitionist of the Year 2012” Prize, promoted by Hands Off Cain to recognize the individual who has demonstrated, above all others, an exceptional commitment to abolishing the death penalty, is conferred this year upon the President of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma, and the award will be presented to him in Rome in October 2012 in occasion of the Worldwide Day Against the Death Penalty.