Italy welcomes the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly on the ninth resolution for a universal moratorium on the death penalty.
The number in favour adoption has grown with respect to 2020. The 125 votes in favour of the resolution, including Italy’s, confirm the strong signal sent by the international community to progressively abandon this unjust and inhumane practice. This is especially relevant in the light of the recent executions of two young protesters in Iran, which Italy immediately condemned.
Through its diplomatic network, starting with its Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, our country has work intensively to foster broader support for the Resolution. This important result was also the fruit of close synergy between the Farnesina and key civil society organisations, including Amnesty International Italia, the Community of Sant’Egidio and Nessuno Tocchi Caino (Hands off Cain).
The resolution adopted this evening also includes important new elements, including the recognition of the devastating impact on the children of those condemned to death; the recognition of the obligation not to impose the death penalty for people under 18 years of age; and a reference to the importance of transparency in access to information to ensure that defendants have a fair trial.
The Farnesina grasps this opportunity to reiterate its unconditional opposition to the death penalty. It is a cruel and inhumane penalty which not only has no deterrent value with respect to crime, but makes any and every judicial error fatally irreversible.
