Today, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marina Sereni, chaired a video conference meeting of the Task Force coordinating the Italian action in view of the UN vote on the new resolution for a universal moratorium on the death penalty. The meeting was attended by the Italian section of Amnesty International, the Community of Sant’Egidio and the civil society organisation “Nessuno Tocchi Caino”. The resolution was deposited last week and will be put to the vote from 16 November, although the precise date has not yet been set.
“Italy – Ms. Sereni said at the end of the meeting – is strongly focused on the campaign to end the death penalty, which is why we have activated our diplomatic network to engage in a widespread awareness campaign in all countries worldwide, especially in those which are traditionally opposed to the resolution, in view of the vote. In fact, it is through dialogue with the latter that we must express our strong commitment, although we should not minimise certain worrying trends pointing to a regression in the position of several Countries. We therefore need a strong commitment by everyone to further this battle. This is why we think the civil society organisations can play a particularly precious role in convincing as many Countries as possible to vote in favour of the resolution, by motivating the public opinion of those Countries not in favour of the resolution”.
