The Minister of Justice of Italy, Andrea Orlando

ORLANDO IN DOHA: DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION IS PRIORITY GOAL

April 14, 2015: "The abolition of the death penalty is a priority in view of the definition of the post-2015 development agenda".
The Minister of Justice of Italy, Andrea Orlando, speaking in Doha at the panel discussion on Death, Drugs and Terrorism during the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, stated this.
Orlando said "Italy welcomes, and firmly supports, the appeal for the abolition of the death penalty for drugs related crimes, as expressed by the International Narcotics Control Board in its 2014 and 2015 sessions".
"As part of the protection and promotion of human rights - which is a key priority for Italy - my country remains firmly committed to the campaign for the abolition of the death penalty, in particular by supporting the universal moratorium on executions in view of the complete abolition", added the Minister.
"Since we submitted to the General Assembly our first proposal for a resolution in 1994, we have inspired and led an encouraging process that in 2007 saw the adoption of the first resolution on a moratorium on the use of capital punishment.
The constant increase of the votes in favor of the successive four Resolutions in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014 shows the consolidation of a trend against the death penalty, with a consensus that reached 117 votes in December 2014 ", said the Minister.
"In many international contexts, Italy has consistently expressed the hope that the number of offenses for which the death penalty is expected to be gradually reduced, with the aim of reaching its final abolition.
Most recently, we have shown our position during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) within the Human Rights Council in Geneva”, Mr. Orlando added. (Sources: askanews, April 14, 2015)