Helping the world achieve a 'moratorium' on executions

HomepageHelping the world achieve a moratorium on executions

- Moratorium
  Helping the world achieve a moratorium on executions
  
  In December 2012, the United Nations’ General Assembly will vote on a new resolution for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. Following the three previous resolutions, the Coalition continues its action in favour of a global moratorium.
- In 2007, the World Coalition made one of the most important decisions in its young history: to support the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty as a step towards universal abolition.
  A moratorium is temporary suspension of executions and, more rarely, of death sentences. It is provisional and often depends on the will of a key decision maker (president, minister of justice...). Conversely, abolition is permanent as enshrined in law.
  
  “The use of the death penalty undermines human dignity”
  
  Several attempts to pass a resolution against the death penalty at the UN General Assembly at the end of the 20th century had failed. In 2007, however, the momentum was different because a trend towards the universal abolition had begun. Two-thirds of the world’s countries had abolished the death penalty or ceased to apply it, and the number of executions declined each year. The time had come to encourage a majority of states to adopt the principle that “the use of the death penalty undermines human dignity“ and to call “upon all States that still maintain the death penalty to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolish the death penalty”.
  
  Increasing support
  
  This decision also marked the launch of the World Coalition’s first international advocacy campaign directed towards states and international organizations. The Coalition participated actively in the efforts for the adoption of the resolution by dedicating the 2007 World Day Against the Death Penalty to this issue. It collected more than 160,000 signatures on a petition and lobbied 105 countries. On December 18, 2007, the resolution was passed with the support of 104 UN members states, while 54 voted against and 29 abstained.
  In 2008 and 2010, the Coalition led a campaign to increase support for the new resolution and to ensure its implementation. The vote on December 18, 2008 showed increasing support for the moratorium: 106 countries voted in favour, 48 against and 34 abstained. In 2010, even more countries supported the resolution with 109 votes in favour, 41 voted against and 35 abstained.
  
  Since 2007, the movement for abolition has grown larger and larger. More states have abolished the death penalty, more moratoria on executions have been implemented and proposals for abolition in law have multiplied throughout the world.
  With the prospect of a new vote coming up in late 2012, the World Coalition and its members are again turning their attention to New York.
- UN resolution: the abolitionist front grows stronger again
  
  The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty welcomes the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a third resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
  
  Article published on December 22nd, 2010
- World Coalition hands 5 million signatures over to the UN
  
  The President of UN General Assembly is to receive 5 million signatures calling for a moratorium on executions collected worldwide by the Community of Sant'Egidio and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
  
  Article published on November 01st, 2007
- UN receives five million signatures in favour of a moratorium on executions
  
  A delegation of World Coalition member organisations has handed over the petition to United Nations General Assembly president Srgjan Kerim.
  
  Article published on November 08th, 2007
- Speaking out in favour of a global moratorium on executions
  
  Together with filmmaker Tim Robbins, abolitionists launched an appeal from New York to support the proposed UN resolution imposing a freeze on executions. Five million people signed the petition supporting this initiative. Watch the video.
  
  Article published on October 25th, 2007
- UN resolution: the abolitionist front grows stronger again
  
  The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty welcomes the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a third resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
  
  Article published on December 22nd, 2010
- Madrid Declaration calls for immediate moratorium in Arab Countries
  
  National experts and civil society representatives from took part in a seminar in Madrid on 14 and 15 July 2009 at the invitation of Casa Arabe and the Spanish ministry for foreign affairs and cooperation.
  
  Article published on July 16th, 2009
- UN resolution: the abolitionist front gets stronger
  
  The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty welcomes the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a second resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
  
  Article published on December 19th, 2008
- Nations of the world to vote on fresh moratorium resolution
  
  As the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly gets under way in New York, the spotlight is once again put on a text calling for a global moratorium on executions.
  
  Article published on November 08th, 2008
- World Day
  5th World Day against the death penalty: the world decides!
  
  On October 10th, 2007, the World Day against the Death Penalty focussed on the proposed UN General Assembly resolution for a universal moratorium on executions. The proposal would save lives and give the population of retentionist states an opportunity to see for themselves that a pause in death sentences does not lead to higher crime rates.
  
  Article by Thomas Hubert published on June 29th, 2007
- Keywords
- International law Moratorium Trend Towards Abolition
- Focus on
- World Day 9th World Day Against the Death Penalty: the inhumanity of the death penalty
  On 10 October 2011, the 9th World Day is to raise awareness on the inhumanity of the death penalty throughout the entire process, from sentence to execution.
- Other Campaigns
- Protocol The World Coalition's campaign in favour of the UN Protocol on abolition
- World Day 9th World Day Against the Death Penalty: the inhumanity of the death penalty