Abolitionists respond with two ethical arguments.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the abolition of the death penalty in Uzbekistan

C. States parties to the Second Optional Protocol, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty

There were seven bills pending before the 13th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, each one seeking the complete abolition of capital punishment.

Nevertheless, according to a survey in 2006, about 80 of Taiwanese still wanted to keep the death penalty.

Juristic organizations were said to be discussing the question of restriction of the scope of capital punishment or total abolition of the death penalty.

Many regional intergovernmental organizations have been involved in promoting abolition.

The Commission on Human Rights has continued annually to adopt resolutions calling upon all States that have not already abolished the death penalty to consider establishing a moratorium on executions with a view to completely abolishing the death penalty.

The abolition of the death penalty had been extensively debated over many years.

Prison conditions were being improved. The Government was preparing a habeas corpus bill, and intended to move towards abolishing the death penalty.

Protocol II of the Covenant provides a separate modality for those States willing to abolish the death penalty in all cases.

In Portugal, after legislative proposals in 1852 and 1863, the death penalty was abolished in 1867.

Three of these 25 countries abolished capital punishment completely in 2004 Bhutan, Samoa and Senegal.

There had, however, been some discussion on radio and television talk shows about the abolition of capital punishment.

Moreover, abolitionists assail the deterrent effect of the death penalty.

I have the honour to forward the copy of the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on abolition of the death penalty (see annex).

Welcoming the efforts of various sectors of civil society at the national and international levels to achieve the abolition of the death penalty,

Welcoming the fact that many countries that still retain the death penalty in their penal legislation are applying a moratorium on executions, and also welcoming the regional initiatives aimed at the establishment of a moratorium on executions and the abolition of the death penalty,

Many now claim that abolition of capital punishment is a precondition of a civilized criminal law system.

Young people universally agree that there should be an end to capital punishment of children and young people, as laid down in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In response to the question as to why capital punishment had not been abolished for ordinary crimes in Japan, the official response stated The majority of people in Japan recognize the death penalty as a necessary punishment for grievous crimes.

(i) To abolish the punishment of execution by stoning and, in the meantime, to end the practice of stoning, as recommended by the head of the judiciary

Nowadays, it is associations such as Amnesty International and Hands Off Cain that push states to abolish capital punishment.

The non governmental organization Together against the Death Penalty organized the First World Congress against the Death Penalty in Strasbourg, France, in June 2001 and the Second World Congress against the Death Penalty in Montreal, Canada, in October 2004.

Questions were also asked about the appeal and clemency process and whether there was any discussion or research relating to the question of abolition of the death penalty.

Welcoming the decisions taken by an increasing number of States to apply a moratorium on executions, followed in many cases by the abolition of the death penalty,

Although efforts to promote the abolition of the death penalty were important, it was equally important to work with States that retained it and to examine that practice in order to decide whether it raised valid concerns related to the Special Rapporteur's mandate.

Yemen had not acceded to the second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.

One speaker referred to the fact that the deterrent effect of capital punishment had not been proven and that, in his country, the abolition of capital punishment had not led to an increase in crime.

Piandiong et al v. the Philippines (Communication No. 869 1999, views adopted on 19 October 2000).

In May 2002, at a meeting in Rome, the World Coalition against the Death Penalty was founded to bring together non governmental organizations, bar associations, unions, local governments and other organizations in a campaign for the universal abolition of the death penalty.

Recalling also its previous resolutions in which it expressed its conviction that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and to the progressive development of human rights,

In comparison, 12 countries abolished capital punishment in the period 1999 2003 (an average of just over 2 a year) 8 of them completely and 4 for ordinary offences.

OSCE has reported abolition of the death penalty for 3 crimes in Kyrgyzstan in 2004 for 10 crimes in Tajikistan and for 6 crimes in Uzbekistan leaving the death penalty available for only 2 crimes.

Paragraphs 2 to 6 of article 6 are evidently included to avoid a reading of the first paragraph of article 6, according to which that paragraph could be understood as abolishing the death penalty as such.

List of States that have ratified or acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, as at 2 August 2005 (54)

Several speakers expressed their country's commitment to working towards the universal abolition of the death penalty and in urging all States, in the meantime, to impose a moratorium on executions.

The US is often criticized for its refusal to abolish capital punishment. Many now claim that abolition of capital punishment is a precondition of a civilized criminal law system.

This construction of the article is reinforced by the opening words of paragraph 2 ( In countries which have not abolished the death penalty ') and by paragraph 6 ( Nothing in this article shall be invoked to delay or to prevent the abolition of capital punishment by any State party to the present Covenant.').

As far as is known, all the countries that abolished the death penalty in the period 1999 2003 did not permit persons sentenced to death prior to abolition to be executed.

Nor is it a party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, or the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

A majority (22) of these completely abolitionist countries reported that they had taken or were involved in initiatives to promote the abolition of capital punishment or to reduce its scope or the incidence of its application.

In Latvia, where there had been a moratorium on executions since 1996, one male had been sentenced to death in 1999 before capital punishment was abolished for ordinary offences later that year.

By the beginning of 1999, 34 countries had ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (General Assembly resolution 44 128, annex).

It shows an encouraging trend towards abolition and restriction of the use of capital punishment in most countries, but indicates that much remains to be done in the implementation of the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of persons facing the death penalty in those countries which retain it.