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Yesterday marked the World and European Day against the Death Penalty. The abolition of the death penalty,Bruce Matthews Titans Jersey, worldwide, is one of the main objectives of the European Union’s Human Rights Policy.The EU said that it considers the death penalty inhumane and a violation of human dignity. It also does not deter violent crime.Further, it said that any capital punishment resulting from a miscarriage of justice,John Stallworth Steelers Jersey, from which no legal system can be immune,Art Monk Redskins Jersey, represents an irreversible loss of human life.“Today we mark the World and European Day against the Death Penalty. I pledge my continued personal commitment, as well as that of the European Union, to doing away with the death penalty , which has no place in the modern world,” said EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission,Emmitt Smith Cowboys Jersey, Catherine Ashton.It was stated that EU plays a leading role in and is the biggest donor to efforts by civil society organizations around the world to campaign for the abolition of the death penalty. The EU uses all available tools of diplomacy and cooperation assistance to work towards the abolition of the death penalty.A call has been made for countries in which the death penalty still exists, for its use to be progressively restricted and insists that it be carried out according to internationally-agreed minimum standards.The EU encourages public debate,Cortez Kennedy Seahawks Jersey, strengthening public opposition and putting pressure on retentionist countries to abolish the death penalty,Warren Moon Titans Jersey, or at least introduce a moratorium as a first step.The EU also acts against the death penalty in multilateral forums, such as the United Nations,Jack Ham Steelers Jersey, a culmination of this effort has been the series of resolutions on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty,Merril Hoge Steelers Jersey, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.July 2011 marked the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Andre Tippett Patriots Jersey, the main worldwide legal instrument for the abolition of the death penalty. The EU encourages all States to ratify or accede to this protocol.The EU is also the first regional body to have adopted rules prohibiting the trade in goods used for capital punishment (and torture and ill-treatment), as well as the supply of technical assistance related to such goods.The EU’s political commitment has been matched by substantial financial support for concrete projects. |
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