Draft Resolution on the Death Penalty, a UN Informal consultation

The rapporteur of Shirazi Foundation attends the United Nation’s event on informal consultation and the draft resolution on the Death Penalty organized by Missions of Belgium, Benin, and other missions. Death Penalty continues to be part of judicial system of certain countries, and the aim of this event is to analyze the link between Death Penalty and other Human Rights violations and looks into contributions by delegations of numerous countries present in the meeting, and viewing the preamble of this draft as it is a focus of the United Nations to address human rights violations in general as Death Penalty remains legal in 97 countries and territories.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remark reflects the global trend away from capital punishment. More and more Member States from all regions acknowledge that the death penalty undermines human dignity, and that its abolition, or at least a moratorium on its use, contributes to the enhancement and progressive development of human rights.

More than 160 Members States of the United Nations with a variety of legal systems, traditions, cultures and religious backgrounds, have either abolished the death penalty or do not practice it. Yet, prisoners in a number of countries continue to face execution.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, with its mandate to promote and protect all human rights, advocates for the universal abolition of the death penalty. The UN Human Rights Office argues this position for other reasons as well, including the fundamental nature of the right to life; the unacceptable risk of executing innocent people; and the absence of proof that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to crime.

In line with General Assembly resolutions calling for a phasing out of capital punishment , the UN Human Rights Office supports Member States, civil society and other stakeholders campaigning for a  moratorium on the death penalty and ultimately  its abolition  worldwide.