EU leads way in historic UN vote for executions moratorium

11.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Dec 2007

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution on a universal moratorium on the death penalty.

In line with longstanding EU policy against executions, EU Member States supported by the European Commission tabled the resolution at the UN after an initiative launched by Italy and enthusiastically endorsed by the European Parliament which has long campaigned on the issue.

Liberal Democrat European Justice and Human Rights Spokeswoman Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP commented:

"This is a very welcome example of EU leadership on human rights, with all three institutions working together to powerful effect. Adoption of this resolution is a historic moment in the fight to stop states killing their own citizens.

"Even in the US there seems to be a tide of similar sentiment, with the state of New Jersey abolishing the death penalty just this week. The next step must be to move beyond a moratorium to a complete ban, and consign this barbaric practice to the past."