29 May 1985

23rd plenary meeting

Capital punishment

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolutions 1745 (LIV) of 16 May 1973, 1930 (LVIII) of 6 May 1975 and 1984/50 of 25 May 1984,

Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 2857 (XXVI) of 20 December 1971, 32/61 of 8 December 1977 and 39/118 of 14 December 1984,

Having examined the third quinquennial report of the Secretary-General on capital punishment,

Concerned at the fact that only 48 Governments responded to the questionnaire addressed to them for the preparation by the Secretary-General of the third quinquennial report,

1. Invites Member States to provide the Secretary-General with the information required for preparation of the fourth quinquennial report on capital punishment in 1990;

2. Takes note of the fact that in the period under review in the report of the Secretary-General some countries have abolished capital punishment, others have adopted a policy of reducing the number of capital offences or have reported not imposing death sentences on offenders, while others have retained capital punishment;

3. Requests the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control to keep the question of capital punishment under constant review;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, in preparing the fourth quinquennial report, to draw on all available data, including current criminological research, and to invite the comments of specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on this question.