On 18 December, the General Assembly of the United Nations voted with an overwhelming majority a resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty worldwide.
“This is a historic moment for all those fighting for abolition of the death penalty throughout the world” said Liévin N’gondji, President of the DRC Coalition Against the Death Penalty and a member of the WCADP. “With this resolution, we will be in a position to challenge our government and to request a further commitment towards the effective abolition of the death penalty”.
The UNGA resolution, which was supported by 104 member states, is a clear indication that the worldwide trend towards abolition of the death penalty is now becoming irreversible. At this time, 133 countries have abandoned the death penalty in law or in practice.
The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty calls on all member states of the United Nations to follow the recommendation of the resolution and apply a formal moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty.
Governments continuing to execute death row convicts will now be acting against the will of the majority of the world’s countries.