Jan Eliasson, Moving Away from the Death Penalty…

The High-level event is intended to inform discussion among Member States, with a particular focus on political leadership required to move away from the death penalty. The event will also see the launch of an OHCHR publication on the death penalty, Moving Away from the Death Penalty, Arguments, Trends and Perspectives. Member States representing a variety of legal systems, traditions, cultures and religious backgrounds have taken a position in favour of abolition of the death penalty. Some States that opposed the abolition of the death penalty in the recent past have moved to abolish it; others have imposed a moratorium on its use. Currently, more than 160 Members States of the United Nations have either abolished the death penalty or do not practice it.