Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 14, 2014 News
The European Union has once again confirmed its commitment to the abolition of the death penalty, even as Guyana continues to hold on to capital punishment.
The EU’s position was reaffirmed three days after the observance of the 12th World and European Day against the Death Penalty.
In a statement issued yesterday, The European Union said that along with its 28-Member States it is reaffirming its strong and absolute opposition to capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances, and its commitment to its worldwide abolition.
“We continue to underline the inhumane and cruel nature of this unnecessary punishment and its failure to prevent crime,” the statement said.
No execution has taken place in any EU Member State in the past 17 years.
According to the statement, the European Union and the UK welcome the fact that all Member States of the European Union have now ratified both Protocols 6 and 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, and urge all other European States that have not yet done so, to sign and ratify these instruments which aim at the abolition of the death penalty.
“The European Union deeply regrets the recent executions carried out by Belarus, the only European country that applies this form of punishment. We welcome the recent steps taken by the African Union towards the adoption of an Additional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Abolition of the Death Penalty.
“We welcome the recent ratifications of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 15 December 1989, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, which have brought the number of States Parties to eighty-one.
“We encourage all States which have not yet done so to ratify this protocol on the occasion of its 25th anniversary in December this year,” the statement said.
The European Union is also calling on all Members of the United Nations to support the Resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty which will be put to vote at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in December 2014.
The EU is the world’s leading institutional actor in the fight against the death penalty and its action in this area represents a key priority of its external human rights policy.
The body is also the largest lead donor supporting the efforts of abolitionist civil society organisations around the world.
To this end, since 2007, the European Union has provided almost 20 million Euros to support actions on the abolition of the death penalty.
“Experience in Europe and other parts of the world have taught us that the death penalty does not prevent an increase in violent crime, nor does it bring justice to the victims of such crimes. We reiterate that capital punishment is not only inhumane but is also unnecessary. No compelling evidence exists to show that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to crime.
“Imposition of the death penalty contravenes the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. International studies show that the abolition of the death penalty does not lead to an increase in crime. Any miscarriage of justice – which is inevitable in any legal system – could lead to innocent persons being killed and is irreversible. The abolition of capital punishment contributes to the progressive development of human rights,” the statement said.
The United Nations Resolution Number 67 calls upon States that have not yet done so to accede to or ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aimed at the abolition of the death penalty.
Here in Guyana, a Parliamentary Select Committee of the National Assembly is currently deliberating the issue of the death penalty, and the EU/UK is encouraging the Committee to recommend the abolition of the death penalty.
Recently, Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira announced that if the National Assembly should vote now on abolishing the death penalty, the measure would not pass.
Capital punishment remains on the books in Guyana, even though it has been obsolete for all practical purposes for more than 15 years.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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