AMERICA/UNITED STATES - “A history making step towards a world without the death penalty”: S. Egidio statement after a Resolution for a Moratorium for Capital Punishment is passed by the UN general assembly

Friday, 16 November 2007

New York (Agenzia Fides) - “This is a decisive contribution to accelerate a process which has seen since the 1990s fifty countries renounce the use of the death penalty and its restriction in many other countries, because of growing respect for human life and increasing doubts about the effectiveness of capital punishment and its correct application even in countries with the most advanced judiciary systems. This is a victory for the world and for life, for defence of human dignity and human rights”. This was affirmed by S. Egidio spokesman and coordinator of the World Campaign for a Universal Moratorium for the Death Penalty, Mario Marazziti, who was commenting the fact that the UN general assembly passed a resolution presented for a moratorium for capital punishment. The S. Egidio Community has worked hard for years for this result with other historical actors in the World Campaign, members or supporters of the World Campaign Against the Death Penalty WCADP.
“The path is difficult - Marazziti continues -, opposed by people who want to make this historical decision appear as interference in the national affairs of individual countries and a 'European' vision of human rights. The five million signatures collected in 153 countries by the S. Egidio Community, the creation of an interreligious and intercultural world front, made evident by the consignment in the hands of the president of the UN General Assembly Srgjan Kerim by a S. Egidio delegation and the WCADP on 2 November the day after the presentation of the Resolution by 37 author countries, with an unprecedented number of co-sponsors, prove the universal and ‘cross-regional’ nature of the text of the Resolution and the change attitude of a greater part of the planet. The passing of the Resolution for a moratorium for capital punishment is a proposal to all member countries and a bridge to countries which did not vote and oppose, a model of justice able to fight crime raising respect for life under every circumstance. To permit the stopping of a judiciary system which is never in infallible. To permit the introduction of alternative measures open to human rehabilitation, able to compensate society and discourage any sense of revenge.”
“The passing of the Resolution - the S. Egidio spokesman concluded - - represents a victory of synergy among different cultures, governments and NGOs. A victory which humiliates no one and opens to way for the world to find on this path effective ways to peace without war and even the need for war.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 16/11/2007; righe 29, parole 420)


Share: