EUROPE/ITALY - November 30 ‘Cities against the death penalty world day’ promoted by S. Egidio Community

Rome (Fides) - On 30 November some 300 cities and 30 capitals all over the world will be connected with Rome for the greatest ever international mobilisation to stop capital punishment. At the beginning of December 2005 in California there should be the execution of Stanley Williams, candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. Around 30 November in Virginia, there will be yet another execution in the history of the United States. In Africa, Senegal has abolished the death penalty and other countries are on the way to granting a moratorium and abolition. In Asia in Korea, Taiwan, Japan important changes in legislation and public opinion are registered.
The Rome based S. Egidio Community launched an initiative which has grown in four years from the initial 65 cities to a growing world network, with important events this year in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Barcelona, London, Brussels, Indonesia, Japan, Africa, as well as a Florence, Rome, Naples and many other cities in Italy and Europe. The initiative has the support of the main international human rights organisations and the World Coalition against the Death Penalty. On 28 and 29 November at least 10 justice ministers from African countries will be in Rome and Tuscany for an international Conference on Africa, human rights and the Death Penalty.
Sister Helen Préjean, Vera Chirwa, Bill Pelke, Tamara Chikunowa, David Atwood and many leading members of the World Coalition against the Death Penalty, witnesses, former inmates of death row, will take part in meetings and events in many European capitals which will have a climax on 30 November. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2005 - Righe 21, parole 298)