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Human Rights Commissioner Strässer on the abolition of the death penalty in Nebraska
The Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, Christoph Strässer, issued the following statement on 28 May on the abolition of the death penalty in the US State of Nebraska:
The Nebraska Legislature has voted by a majority to abolish the death penalty in this US state. I strongly welcome this development, which also sends an important signal for the ongoing discussion on the death penalty in other US states.
The death penalty is and remains an inhumane, cruel and immoral form of punishment. The German Government rejects the death penalty under all circumstances and will continue to work with its partners in the European Union to actively campaign for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.
Background information:
The death penalty is still applied in 31 of the 50 US states. In addition to Nebraska, the states of Maryland, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico and New Jersey have abolished the death penalty since 2007.