The United Nations moratorium on the death penalty
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Since 2007 the General Assembly of the United Nations has adopted at regular intervals a resolution calling on states for a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty. The resolution is not binding, but every vote measures how many states are willing to support it, and the supporters have grown over time.
Hands Off Cain works on parliaments and governments so that this number grows and so that the vote is followed by decisions at home. This page collects the news on the votes, the co-sponsorships and the positions of individual countries.
Latest news
- NOVEMBER 30, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
SAATCHI & SAATCHI AIDS HANDS OFF CAIN WITH ONLINE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
Saatchi & Saatchi has created a banner for the collection of signatures in favour of a UN moratorium on executions and for the “Hands Off Saddam” appeal.
- NOVEMBER 17, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
UN PANEL SLAMS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN NORTH KOREA
a panel of the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution expressing "serious concern" at reports of "systemic, widespread and grave violations of human rights" in North Korea
- NOVEMBER 16, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. 2007 MORATORIUM RESOLUTION OUR OBJECTIVE, FOREIGN MINISTER
“We are gathering support with the European Union for the abrogation of the death penalty and a universal moratorium on capital executions.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. RE-LAUNCH OF ONLINE COLLECTION OF SIGNATURES FOR “HANDS OFF SADDAM”
an event was held in Rome re-launching the online collection of signatures for the “Hands Off Saddam” campaign and for a UN moratorium on capital executions.
- NOVEMBER 8, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. SERGIO D’ELIA REPLIES TO QUESTION TIME ON SADDAM DEATH PENALTY
a question time was held at the Foreign Commission of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies regarding the death penalty handed down to Saddam Hussein.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
SADDAM HUSSEIN. DISGRACE OF THIS DEATH PENALTY FALLS ON EUROPE, HOC
following the death sentence handed down to Saddam Hussein, Sergio D’Elia, Secretary Gen. of Hands Off Cain, and Elisabetta Zamparutti, Treasurer, declared: “A court formed by Shiites and Kurds condemned to death the Sunni Saddam.
- OCTOBER 26, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. NO MORATORIUM RESOLUTION THIS YEAR, FOREIGN MINISTER
there should be “European consensus” for a UN resolution for a universal moratorium on executions, said Italy’s Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema.
- OCTOBER 26, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. BELATED D’ALEMA CLARIFICATION SERIOUS, HANDS OFF CAIN
the foreign Commission of the Chamber of Deputies held an informal meeting between its Presidency and Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema.
- OCTOBER 19, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER WILL OF PARLIAMENT, CHAMBER PRESIDENT BERTINOTTI
“I consider as very important the unanimous position taken by the Foreign Commission of the Chamber of Deputies regarding the UN moratorium on capital executions. It is the second time in two and a half months that the Lower House has taken such a stance.
- OCTOBER 19, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. RESOLUTION FOR UN MORATORIUM APPROVED AT LOWER HOUSE
the Foreign Commission of Italy’s Lower House approved a resolution for a UN moratorium on capital executions, despite government opposition.
- OCTOBER 19, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. HANDS OFF CAIN REPLIES TO UNDERSECRETARY VERNETTI
Elisabetta Zamparutti, responsible for Hands Off Cain’s UN based initiatives, replies to Undersecretary Vernetti’s comments defining as “adventurous” the presentation of a pro-moratorium resolution at the ongoing UN General Assembly.
- OCTOBER 10, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
BRUSSELS. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS BACK UN MORATORIUM
a group of European Parliamentarians sent a letter to the European Council and to EU Ministers asking they support a moratorium on executions at the UN General Assembly.
- OCTOBER 10, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. RESOLUTION FOR UN MORATORIUM DEPOSITED AT CHAMBER
a resolution was deposited at the Chamber of Deputies’ Foreign Commission asking the government to “fully and immediately put into action” the motion established in Parliament last July 27 to present at the ongoing UN General Assembly a resolution for a U
- OCTOBER 9, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT NOT RESPECTING CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, HANDS OFF CAIN
the government should commit itself to presenting a resolution for a moratorium on executions at the ongoing UN General Assembly, even without unanimous support from the European Union. At a press conference held in Rome, Hands Off Cain appealed to the It
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2006IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
ITALY-INDONESIA. HANDS OFF CAIN ADHERES TO CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY VIGIL
Hands Off Cain announced it would participate in today’s vigil, promoted by Christian Democratic party leader Pierferdinando Casini, outside the Indonesian embassy in Rome.
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2006DEATH PENALTY
HOC. PRODI’S GOVERNMENT ALSO PREPARES TO BETRAY EFFORTS FOR A UN MORATORIUM ON CAPITAL EXECUTIONS
For Marco Pannella, President of Hands Off Cain, the organisation’s Secretary Sergio D’Elia and Treasurer Elisabetta Zamparutti, the statement, “We are against the death penalty”, contained in Prime Minster Romano Prodi’s speech at the UN General Assembly
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2006ChinaDEATH PENALTY
ITALY-CHINA. DEATH PENALTY ISSUE RAISED
“Yesterday and today, we brought up the issue of the death penalty with various members of the government of the People's Republic of China, hoping for a commitment in the reduction of crimes for which it is applicable,” stated Undersecretary for Foreign
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN: THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK AT THE UN FOR A UNIVERSAL MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
“Will the death penalty be among the main issues raised by the Italian government at the UN General Assembly?”.
- JULY 28, 2006United StatesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS. US SHOULD ADOPT DEATH SENTENCE MORATORIUM, UNHRC
the US should adopt a moratorium on death sentences, the UN Human Rights Committee said, noting that capital punishment appears to be disproportionately imposed on minority groups and poor people.
- JULY 27, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. GOVERNMENT FOR A UN MORATORIUM ON CAPITAL EXECUTIONS
the Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved the motion presented by Sergio D’Elia, Secretary of Hands Off Cain and MP for the Rosa nel Pugno party, entrusting the government to present the resolution for a moratorium on capital executions at the next UN
- JULY 21, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. PRESENTATION OF “THE DEATH PENALTY WORLDWIDE 2006 REPORT”
Hands Off Cain presented the 2006 edition of the annual Hands Off Cain Report: “The Death Penalty Worldwide”. The worldwide trend towards abolition, underway for at least a decade, was again confirmed in 2005 and the first half of 2006.
- JULY 21, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. GOVERNMENT WILL BACK UN MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
“If I had to choose a parameter to show man’s progress towards a more just society, it would have to be that of the death penalty,” stated President of the Senate of the Italian Republic Franco Marini, participating at the presentation of Hands Off Cain’s
- JUNE 19, 2006CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA. DISSIDENTS ASK FOR AMNESTY FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS, MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
dissident groups in Cuba asked Havana to grant a general amnesty to political prisoners and to introduce a legal moratorium on capital executions.
- JUNE 19, 2006MoroccoDEATH PENALTY
MOROCCO. CALL FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY IN MOROCCO
the World Coalition against the death penalty held its general assembly in Casablanca on June 17-18. The special session was dedicated to the abolition of the death penalty in Morocco, North Africa and the Middle East.
- JUNE 14, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. HANDS OFF CAIN WELCOMES FOREIGN MINISTER’S COMMITMENT IN ABOLISHMENT OF DEATH PENALTY
Hands Off Cain appreciates the announcement made today by Italy’s Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema who, whilst expounding the guidelines for Italy’s foreign policy, reaffirmed Italy’s commitments for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.
- JUNE 7, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN. HOC WELCOMES THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Hands Off Cain welcomes the news that Philippine law makers voted to abolish the death penalty.
- MAY 30, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
KAZAKHSTAN. HOC MEETS WITH OPPOSITION, DISCUSSES UN MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
Hands Off Cain met with two Kazakh opposition leaders during its visit to the country: Amirzahan Kosanov, Secretary of Democratic Choice of Kazakistan and the party’s founder Galymzhan Zahikianov.
- MAY 29, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
KAZAKHSTAN. ‘FROM MORATORIUM TO THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY’
the seminar entitled “Kazakhstan from the Moratorium on Death Penalty Toward the Adoption of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR” took place in the country’s capital Almaty.
- MAY 26, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
KAZAKHSTAN. HANDS OFF CAIN WILL ATTEND THE MEETING ON THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY
experts from 8 countries will convene in Almaty on Monday, May 29, to attend the Coordination meeting of NGOs “Kazakhstan from the Moratorium on Death Penalty Toward the Adoption of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR”.
- MAY 23, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. HANDS OFF CAIN IN SUPPORT OF PRODI’S COMMITMENT FOR A MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS AT THE NEXT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Hands Off Cain’s leaders, Sergio D’Elia and Elisabetta Zamparutti, expressed their full appreciation for the statement made by newly elected Prime Minister Romano Prodi in favour of a universal moratorium on executions.