Fwd: AI Press Release -- UN General Assembly set to endorse call for halt to executions
Tony R. Lee
From: Ariel Herrera <aher...@aiusa.org>
Date: Nov 6, 2007 12:03 PM
Subject: AI Press Release -- UN General Assembly set to endorse call
for halt to executions
To: OUTFrontSC <outfr...@aiusa.org>, OutFrontHRAC <outfro...@aiusa.org>
Cc: Vienna Colucci <vcol...@aiusa.org>
Dear All,
Important announcement from the IS - as Kate noted this UN development has
very concrete significance to our LGBT work, particularly in our upcoming
campaign on decriminalization/sodomy laws.
best,
A
===================================================
Dear all
Many of you will know about this from your Sections -- there is a
resolution at the UN General Assembly calling for a moratorium on the use
of the death penalty. This is a key priority for AI right now. The
resolution, if adopted, will be a significant milestone towards achieving
the goal of a death penalty-free world. It will have impact on various
aspects of our work on identity-based discrimination, such as executions
for consensual sex (outside of marriage, with someone of the same sex,
etc.), executions of child offenders, etc. There's a lot more information
on our website (material on the homepage -- http://www.amnesty.org/ and
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-index-eng).
With best wishes,
kate
Kate Sheill
Identity-based discrimination Campaign Coordinator
Amnesty International, International Secretariat
1 Easton St, London WC1X 0DW, UK
----- Forwarded by Kate Sheill/I.S./Amnesty International on 06/11/2007
16:30 -----
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
AI Index: IOR 40/024/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 213
6 November 2007
UN General Assembly set to endorse call for halt to executions
Amnesty International today welcomed the decision of 75 countries to
co-sponsor a draft resolution at the General Assembly calling on all states
worldwide to stop executions and called on all states to resist any
amendments that could weaken the purpose of the resolution.
"Amnesty International is very encouraged that so many countries from all
regions co-sponsored this draft calling for a global moratorium on
executions," said Yvonne Terlingen, Head of Amnesty International's UN
Office in New York. "It clearly demonstrates broad regional support for
ending this cruel and inhuman practice."
"Amnesty International urges all UN member states to support the text and
resist any amendments that would seek to alter the purpose of this
important resolution."
No less than 130 out of 192 UN member states have already abolished the
death penalty in law or practice and only 25 countries carried out
executions in 2006.
Over 50 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes since
1990.
In Asia, 25 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
In Africa, only six out of 53 states carried out executions in 2006. The
worldwide trend towards abolition of the death penalty has been recognized
by the UN Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights and
both support the call for the moratorium on executions.
"We hope that more countries will join the co-sponsors of this resolution,"
said Terlingen.
The General Assembly has already adopted two resolutions on capital
punishment, in 1971 and 1977, in which the General Assembly proclaimed it
was desirable that the death penalty be abolished in all countries.
"A resolution calling for a moratorium on executions will be a significant
step towards realizing the General Assembly's vision of a death
penalty-free world." said Terlingen.
To see Frequently Asked Questions regarding the global call for a
moratorium on the death penalty, please go to:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engior400232007
Public Document
****************************************
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in
London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web:
http://www.amnesty.org
For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org
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--
Tony R. Lee
OUTfront Coordinator
National Resolutions Committee
AGM Planning Committee
Mid-Atlantic
Amnesty International, USA
tony...@gmail.com
(202) 390-7888 cell
(202) 973-4654 direct/work
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