THE HON ALEXANDER DOWNER MP

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Parliament House

Camberra ACT 2600

Mr Olivier Dupuis MP

Transnational Radical Party

European Parliament/7H252

Rue Wiertz 60

1047 BRUSSELS

Belgium

2 SEP 1998

Dear Mr Dupuis

Thank you for your facsimile letter dated 10 August 1998 concerning the initiative for a resolution calling for a universal moratorium on capital punishment at the forthcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Australian Government is universally and consistently opposed to the use of capital punishment in any circumstances, a position based on the view that the death penalty is an inhuman form of punishment which violates the most fundamental human right, the right to life. Australia consistently raises its opposition to the use of the death penalty with all countries that employ capital punishment and also makes representations on behalf of individuals sentenced to death. Australia co-sponsored the resolution on the death penalty at this year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. As you will be aware, this resolution calls upon all States that still maintain the death penalty to establish a moratorium on executions, with a view to completely abolishing the death penalty.

Australia's commitment to opposing the use of the death penalty remains undiminished.

However, the history of the issue at the General Assembly indicates that sponsorship of a resolution along the lines you have indicated would be complex and resource intensive. The limited resources and already full workload of the Australian delegation would make it very difficult for us to accept this additional role. However, we would give strong support to an appropriate resolution at the General Assembly if one were to emerge.

Yours sincerely

Alexander Downer