UN. COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS APPROVES ANTI DEATH PENALTY RESOLUTION

The resolution, approved with 28 votes in favour, 19 against and with 6 abstentions was presented by Ireland as EU Presidency holders. Last year 24 states had voted in favour, 18 against, 10 abstained and one had been absent at the time of voting.
Countries which changed their stance and decided to vote in favour this year were Bhutan and Gabon. Bhutan had voted against in 1997 and in 1998, abstaining in 1999. The King of Bhutan issued a decree abolishing the death penalty on March 20, 2004. Gabon, a de-facto abolitionist country, had abstained in 1997 and in 2003.
Even the Republic of Korea, a retentionist state, has made progress by going from voting against to abstaining. Up to now there are 72 co-sponsors to the resolution, but others have until next Friday to add their co-sponsorship.
Commenting on the vote, Hands Off Cain Secretary Sergio D’Elia declared:“The approval, for the eighth consecutive year, of the anti death penalty resolution by the Commission on Human Rights demonstrates how this initiative has matured and now only awaits a transition to the UN General Assembly in order for the international community to give a definitive “no” to the death penalty by imposing a moratorium on executions.”