P6_TA(2007)0166

Universal moratorium on the death penalty

European Parliament resolution of 26 April 2007 on the initiative for a universal moratorium on the death penalty

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 1 February 2007 on the initiative in favour of a universal moratorium on the death penalty [1],

- having regard to the Guidelines on EU policy towards third countries on the death penalty of 29 June 1998,

- having regard to the final declaration of the third World Congress against the Death Penalty held in Paris between 1 and 3 February 2007,

- having regard to the statement on abolition of the death penalty delivered on 19 December 2006 in the UN General Assembly by the EU Presidency, which was initially signed by 85 countries in all geographical groups,

- having regard to the statement read by the EU Presidency on behalf of the European Union during the fourth session of the UN Human Rights Council on 29 March 2007,

- having regard to the public support for a moratorium expressed by the Secretary-General of the UN during his recent visit to Rome,

- having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the call for a universal moratorium on the death penalty is a strategic move towards the abolition of the death penalty in all countries,

B. whereas its resolution of 1 February 2007 called on the EU Presidency to urgently submit a resolution to the current UN General Assembly and to keep Parliament informed of the results achieved; whereas at this stage no resolution has been submitted to the current UN General Assembly,

C. whereas the statement on the death penalty presented by the European Union in the UN General Assembly on 19 December 2006 has now gathered 88 signatures from countries in all geographical groups;

1. Reiterates its call to the EU Member States to gather third-country support for the statement;

2. Encourages the EU to seize the existing opportunities and press its case and calls on the EU Member States and the EU to immediately submit — seeking the co-sponsorship of countries in other continents — a resolution for a universal moratorium on the death penalty to the current UN General Assembly;

3. Calls on the EU Presidency to encourage those remaining countries which have not signed and ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to do so, and those Member States that have not signed Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights on the death penalty to do so;

4. Fully endorses the final declaration of the third World Congress and intends to follow up the Congress, notably by developing the parliamentary dimension of the global campaign against the death penalty and raising the matter through its interparliamentary delegations and participation in the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly;

5. Calls on the Council and the Commission to take every possible opportunity to support the establishment of regional abolitionist coalitions;

6. Calls on all institutions of the European Union, together with the Council of Europe, to support the World Day against the Death Penalty by declaring 10 October a European Day against the Death Penalty, from 2007 onwards, and endorses the initiative of organising a high-profile European conference against the death penalty in connection with that day; mandates its President to represent the European Parliament, together with the relevant delegation, on that occasion;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EU Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the Chair of the UN General Assembly and the UN Member States.

[1] Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2007)0018.

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