The EU must build on death penalty breakthrough achieved at UN
The landmark decision achieved at the UN to call for a global moratorium on executions should become a key tool for the EU and its Member States to further pursue the goal of a death-penalty free world. The clear condemnation of the practice of executions by a vast majority of countries is a wake up call for those that insist on retaining the death penalty.
The momentum surrounding this historic vote must not be lost. The UN resolution should be invoked at every opportunity by the EU and its Member States to lobby countries, in particular those that have now taken their first steps towards abolition, to once and for all stop executions.
Amnesty International also hopes that the EU will strengthen the cross regional partnerships that were crucial for success in this initiative. The EU should learn from this experience and strive to build partnerships with countries across the world on this as well as other pressing human rights issues.
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