Press release

World Day Against the Death Penalty statement

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Anelay and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Death Penalty, Baroness Stern, issued a joint statement to mark the day.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE
• Published: 10 October 2014
• Last updated: 10 October 2014 — See all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Minister for Human Rights Baroness Anelay and Baroness Stern said:

It is now 50 years since the last execution took place in the United Kingdom. On World Day Against the Death Penalty we reaffirm our belief that the death penalty has no place in the 21st century.

More than 150 members of the United Nations have already renounced capital punishment, in law or practice, and we hope that all other states will soon follow.

We call on the 69th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations to reaffirm, when it votes on the Resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty later this year, its support for the worldwide trend towards abolition. We are ready to work with other states, parliaments and civil society groups who share this hope.

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Published 10 October 2014
Last updated 10 October 2014 + show all updates

1. 10 October 2014

   Added translation

2. 10 October 2014

   First published.