24 February 2010
In his speech at the 4th World Congress against the Death Penalty, opened today in Geneva (Switzerland), the President of the Government defended the establishment of an effective moratorium for 2015 as a preliminary step to total abolition. Furthermore, he offered that the next World Congress be held in Spain.
The 4th World Congress against the Death Penalty is being held in Geneva (Switzerland) and has been organised by the NGO “United against the Death Penalty” in collaboration with another NGO, “World Coalition against the Death Penalty”.
Over the course of three days, from 24 to 26 February, more than a thousand people representing civil society, international organisations and government institutions will exchange ideas and experiences in order to establish a universal moratorium against executions, as a preliminary step to total abolition.
The previous editions of this event were held in Strasbourg (2001), Montreal (2004) and Paris (2007).
In his speech at the opening session, the President of the Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, reminded his audience that Spain has been one of the countries in support of holding this Congress and proposed that the next one be held in Spain. He said it would be “an honour”.
For the President of the Spanish Government, these Congresses represent a “meeting point and forum for validation” that will grow in “strength and determination”. He said that it brings us together in a “noble movement” that is “militant and valuable”.
Progress
Over the course of recent decades, a global movement in support of the right to life and human dignity has gradually consolidated its position.
“Progress has been very significant, particularly in the last twenty years, but we cannot rest on our laurels in satisfaction just yet because there are still many countries that apply the death penalty”, added Mr Rodríguez Zapatero.
He stressed that Spain is a completely abolitionist country and that eradication of the death penalty forms part of the priorities for the foreign policy of the Spanish Government, as established by the Human Rights Plan approved by the Government in 2008.
He assured that Spain will continue to incorporate its petitions for the eradication of the death penalty in its diplomatic activities, initially from a standpoint of respectfully not interfering but also from one of respect for human rights.
He added that, during the six-month period of Spanish EU Presidency, we will work for the immediate establishment of a moratorium in those countries that remain “retentionist”. We will also undertake direct action in individual cases, fundamentally those that affect minors, pregnant women or people with mental disabilities.
Along the same lines, he announced that we are going to push for the approval of a new Resolution by the General Assembly within the framework of the United Nations at the end of this year.
International commission
Mr Rodríguez Zapatero announced the creation of an International Commission against the Death Penalty, whose purpose will be to contribute to strengthening the international momentum leading towards its Universal Abolition. The creation of this Commission was established in the Human Rights Plan approved by the Spanish Government.
This Commission will become operational during the second half of this year and will consist of individuals of high moral authority and internationally-recognised prestige from all regions of the world.
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