B4-0595, 0615, 0621, 0642, 0658 and 0665/98
18/06/98
Resolution on the question of the death penalty and the establishment of a universal moratorium on executions
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on the death penalty,
A. whereas in 1994 the United Nations General Assembly rejected by only 8 votes a resolution on the establishment of a universal moratorium on the death penalty,
B. recalling the 1997 resolution of the UN Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/1998/L.20) which maintains that "abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and to the progressive development of human rights",
C. recalling the resolution of the UN Commission on Human Rights of 3 April 1998, (E/CN.4/1998/L.12) which calls for the establishment of a universal moratorium on executions;
D. welcoming the latest report of the UN Secretary-General which contains information on changes and positive developments in law and practice concerning the death penalty world-wide (E/CN.4/1998/82),
E. welcoming the fact that several countries, while still keeping the death penalty in their legislation, are applying a de facto moratorium on executions,
1. Calls on the Member States to undertake all necessary steps to ensure that the question of the death penalty is included on the agenda of the next session of the UN General Assembly;
2. Requests the Council to give a mandate to the Austrian Presidency to coordinate the initiatives of the EU Member States concerning the inclusion of a universal moratorium on executions on the agenda of the next session of the UN General Assembly;
3. Calls on the Council, the Member States and the Commission, acting within their respective remits, to table at the next UN General Assembly a resolution for the introduction of a universal moratorium on executions;
4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN General Assembly.
