Italy is very pleased with the outcome of the UN General Assembly Commission vote yesterday in New York on a resolution for a death penalty moratorium, which received 110 votes in favour (one more as compared with the 2010 vote by the same Commission), 36 abstentions (one more than in 2010) and 39 votes against (two less than in 2010).
According to Minister for Foreign Affairs Giulio Terzi, “the increase in the number of States sponsoring the resolution, the increased favourable votes and decreased votes against, are an encouraging sign of the growing awareness among the international community of the need to promote the abolition of the death penalty. This is an objective”, Terzi continued, “of the utmost importance for the promotion of human rights around the world, which is one of the absolute priorities of Italian foreign policy”.
“This increased number of countries from every part of the world who are against the death penalty”, Terzi underscored, “gives Italy the impetus to pursue this goal with growing conviction in all international forums, with a view to convincing all States that still provide for it in their legislation to immediately adopt a moratorium on executions. The immediate objective”, he concluded, “is to further build consensus for the resolution within the year in the General Assembly’s Plenary Session in New York”.
The final General Assembly vote on adoption of the resolution is to be held, as every year, by the end of December.
