Brussels
The European Union has decided to step up its efforts for a global ban of the death penalty, after the execution of Saddam Hussein and two of his co-defendants.
Italy is currently pushing for a global moratorium and a complete end to capital punishment, saying that the 27-members of the European Union should try to increase international support for the diplomatic bid.
Ms Brigitte Zypries, Germany's Justice Minister, said that the European Union is planning to submit a resolution to the United Nations to put the moratorium on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly.
During his visit to Brussels, as new Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon welcomed the push of the European Union for a global moratorium on the death penalty. He told journalists on Wednesday that "there is some tendency to see some phase-out of the death penalty and I encourage the trend."
In the past, attempts to ban capital punishment at the United Nations have failed.
Informed sources in Brussels said that the subject was raised during the foreign ministers meeting, but the United Kingdom argued that the United Nations is not an appropriate forum for such an initiative.
Although the death penalty is banned in Europe, some European Union member states, among them Germany, will be unwilling to irk the United States and other business partners like China and Iran that are backing the death penalty.
South Korea, the country of origin of Mr. Ban Ki-moon, is also among the countries that still retain the death penalty, but is considering abolishing the practice.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The experiment that failed
A reflection on 30 years of executions
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510112007
The European Union has decided to step up its efforts for a global ban of the death penalty, after the execution of Saddam Hussein and two of his co-defendants.
Italy is currently pushing for a global moratorium and a complete end to capital punishment, saying that the 27-members of the European Union should try to increase international support for the diplomatic bid.
Ms Brigitte Zypries, Germany's Justice Minister, said that the European Union is planning to submit a resolution to the United Nations to put the moratorium on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly.
During his visit to Brussels, as new Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon welcomed the push of the European Union for a global moratorium on the death penalty. He told journalists on Wednesday that "there is some tendency to see some phase-out of the death penalty and I encourage the trend."
In the past, attempts to ban capital punishment at the United Nations have failed.
Informed sources in Brussels said that the subject was raised during the foreign ministers meeting, but the United Kingdom argued that the United Nations is not an appropriate forum for such an initiative.
Although the death penalty is banned in Europe, some European Union member states, among them Germany, will be unwilling to irk the United States and other business partners like China and Iran that are backing the death penalty.
South Korea, the country of origin of Mr. Ban Ki-moon, is also among the countries that still retain the death penalty, but is considering abolishing the practice.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The experiment that failed
A reflection on 30 years of executions
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510112007