THE DECADE OF THE UN MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS

December 18, 2017:

December 18, 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Resolution for the Universal Moratorium on Capital Executions by the General Assembly of the United Nations. This is a historic vote that helped to accelerate politically the process of abolition in progress. If in 2007 there were at least 5,851 executions worldwide, today they have been reduced to just over 3,000 and if the countries in various ways abolitionist in 2007 were 148, today they have risen to 160. Just as the States that voted in favor of the UN Resolution for the Moratorium have increased, from 104 in 2007 to 117 in 2016.

 The only data that has not changed is that 99% of executions continue to be concentrated in authoritarian and illiberal countries, proving that the battle for the abolition of the death penalty concerns above all the affirmation of the Rule of Law.

 The Rule of Law today is strongly threatened by the terrorist emergency in the name of which some States have reintroduced the death penalty or resumed executions. It is precisely in these moments that the authoritativeness of a State is measured, which is such if it does not abdicate respect for human rights as defined by international instruments, but affirms them vigorously, without exception.

 Precisely for this reason we are engaged in a project to contain the death penalty in time of terrorism through compliance with international standards on due process in Egypt, Somalia and Tunisia and to support the UN Resolution for the Universal Moratorium on Capital Executions that will again be in the vote of the Assembly in 2018 General of New York.