On the European and World Day Against the Death Penalty, Italy reaffirms its firm and unconditional opposition to capital punishment, wherever and under whatever circumstances it is imposed. It is a punishment that denies human dignity.
“For Italy, a justice system is judged in part by how it treats those who have perpetrated the most severe crimes. Fundamental rights apply to everyone. This commitment is part of our policy of protecting human rights and human dignity. We will continue to work in multilateral forums to persuade more States to suspend executions: a moratorium today, definitive abolition tomorrow,” Minister Tajani said.
In 2024, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution calling for a universal moratorium on executions received 130 votes in favour. For the first time, two-thirds of UN Member States supported a halt to executions. The Assembly will vote again this year, and Italy, a member of the Human Rights Council and a longstanding advocate of the moratorium, aims to expand that majority further.
Today, 115 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes and, according to Amnesty International, 145 are abolitionist in law or in practice.
