[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 29



GLOBAL:

At event on abolishing death penalty, Ban stresses need to respect rights of 
victims' families


As momentum continues to build towards abolishing the death penalty, 
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the need to ensure that the rights 
of victims and their families are respected as part of efforts to ensure a life 
of dignity for all.

"The rights of victims and their families must absolutely be respected," Mr. 
Ban said in his message to an event on Moving Away from the Death Penalty: The 
Voices of Victims' Families, delivered by United Nations High Commissioner for 
Human Rights Zeid Ra???ad Al Hussein.

Critical in this regard, he noted, are the right to see effective 
investigations and proper retribution for crimes and the right to demand 
redress for the harm suffered, through judicial and administrative mechanisms 
that are expeditious, responsive, fair, and accessible.

"This implies that all victims should be fully informed about such processes, 
which should be inexpensive and allow for the presentation of victims' views 
and concerns," Mr. Ban stated.

7 decades ago, only 14 countries had abolished the death penalty. Today, 82 % 
have either introduced moratoria by law or in practice or have abolished it. 
Over the past 12 months alone, Fiji, Madagascar, Suriname, and the state of 
Nebraska in the United States have abolished the practice of putting people to 
death.

But despite this overarching worldwide trend towards abolition, Mr. Ban said, a 
small number of countries have increased or resumed executions in recent 
months.

"Frequently, these policies are justified by authorities invoking the rights of 
crime victims' families. In reality, many murder victims' families believe that 
responding to one killing with another does not honour the victim."

The event, held on the margins of the high-level segment of the General 
Assembly, was organized by the UN human rights office (OHCHR), which noted that 
a growing body of evidence suggests that, from the perspective of murder 
victims' families, the death penalty is harmful and interferes with a difficult 
healing process.

"A life of dignity for all includes the dignity of victims and their families, 
who must be acknowledged by all law enforcement and judicial personnel with 
full compassion and respect. It is also paramount to secure the safety of 
victims, their families and witnesses from intimidation and reprisal," said Mr. 
Ban.

The UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and 
Abuse of Power clearly states these and other rights of victims of crime, and 
it outlines measures to secure them.

"I call on States to do far more to realize these principles in practice," said 
Mr. Ban. "And I urge all States and individuals to join the United Nations as 
we continue advocating for an end to the imposition of death penalty as part of 
our larger push for a more just and sustainable future."

(source: UN News Centre)