ENDED IN SWAZILAND THE AFRICAN MISSION OF HANDS OFF CAIN

November 12, 2016: With two days of meetings in the Kingdom of Swaziland, it ended the mission of Hands Off Cain in four African countries in view of the vote on the Resolution for the universal moratorium on executions at the General Assembly of the United Nations.
The mission is part of a project backed by the Italian Foreign Ministry in view of the vote (expected on Nov. 17) at the Third Committee on Human Rights, and around mid-December at the General Assembly Plenary.
The delegation of Hands Off Cain was formed by the Hon. Roberto Rampi (PD), by Antonio Stango the association's Executive Board, Eleonora Mongelli and Yuliya Vassilyeva.
In the Swaziland capital, Mbabane, the delegation met with Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prince Hlangusemphi Dlamini, Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Prince Guduza Dlamini, former Speaker of the House of Assembly of Swaziland (both princes are brothers of King Mswati III), Senator Edgar Hillary, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and MP Jan Sithole, president of the Swaziland Democratic Party (Swadepa).
During the meetings, which were also attended by the Ambassador Nicola Bellomo head of the European Union Delegation in the Kingdom of Swaziland, the Swazi authorities explained the constitutional and judicial system of the country, where the death penalty is provided but where is a de facto moratorium in force since 1983.
At the moment, after some recent royal commutations of death sentences, it remains just a prisoner on death row.