“I am delighted the UN General Assembly has adopted by a large majority the resolution calling for a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty.
The adoption of the resolution by the largest majority since such a resolution was tabled for the first time in 2007 shows that ever more countries share our view of the death penalty: it is an inhumane punishment that violates the right to life and has demonstrably had no effect in deterring crime.
The vote in New York confirms there is a clear trend towards universal abolition. Since the early 1990s over 50 countries have abolished the death penalty for all offences. Only in a minority of countries does it remain on the statute books.
I call on these countries to respect the UN resolution, proclaim a moratorium on executions and commute death sentences to prison sentences.
I see encouraging developments particularly in Africa. Many countries there no longer carry out the death penalty, even though it remains on the statute books. I invite these countries to take the further step of officially abolishing it.
I am concerned about the situation in Asia, where more executions are carried out than anywhere else in the world. I call on the countries in this region to limit the large number of death sentences handed down and introduce a moratorium on executions.”