Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-07-05-Speech-4-130"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20010705.6.4-130"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"I very much welcome the fact that all the European Union institutions are united in working towards the abolition of the death penalty and am pleased that once again the European Parliament is in the forefront of these efforts.
As the House knows, both the Council and the Commission have made abolition a priority. The Council is pursuing implementation of the European Union guidelines where the death penalty still exists. The European Union calls for its use to be progressively restricted and insists that it be carried out according to minimum standards.
The European Union also presses, where relevant, for moratoria to be introduced. It might just be helpful if I set out in detail the guidelines of our policy towards third countries on the death penalty. Those guidelines stipulate that the subject should be mentioned, if appropriate, during political dialogue with those countries. It was mentioned, for example, in our recent meetings with the United States.
The guidelines stipulate that démarches should be made when there is a threat that the death penalty will be restored or that an official or de facto moratorium will cease. The guidelines make it clear that supportive démarches or public statements should be made when a country takes steps towards abolition. We indicate, in the guidelines, that individual démarches should be made when it seems that minimum standards in this area are being violated. For example: when there is a lack of legal safeguards; when the death penalty is to be applied to those who were minors when the offence was committed; to pregnant women or to the mother of a young child or to the mentally ill and the application of the death penalty for non-violent crimes or offences such as crimes of opinion and conscience and financial crimes.
In the recently adopted communication on human rights and democratisation, the Commission identified the campaign for the abolition of the death penalty as one of the four priorities that we would pursue over coming years under the European initiative for democracy and human rights. We have already funded a number of projects in this area by mobilising public opinion worldwide against capital punishment. We hope to consign the death penalty to the history books as a form of punishment which has no place in the modern world. To take an example, and I follow what an honourable Member said a moment or two ago, I find it almost impossible to believe that I am reading a newspaper published in 2001 when I read reports that women in Iran are once again being sentenced to death by stoning.
I agree with honourable Members that the first World Congress to abolish the death penalty in Strasbourg on 21 and 22 June 2001 was a very important gathering. While I was not able to attend in person, the Commission services represented me and delivered an address. I understand that the presence of those individuals who came to the Congress to testify about the years they had spent awaiting execution before being declared innocent was particularly moving and particularly valuable. Also, I believe that the Congress proved useful in highlighting both the difficult problems related to the abolition of the death penalty and in gathering suggestions of a number of innovative policy strategies, in particular, from the American participants. It was interesting to hear the honourable Member's remarks about recent converts on this issue.
I also take this opportunity to thank the President for her initiative to invite a number of presidents of parliaments as well as the Congress participants to attend the solemn appeal that took place in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 22 June last. This was an important part of the Congress highlighting the important role of parliaments in eliminating the death penalty. The Strasbourg appeal that was adopted at this event will serve as an important reference document for our continued efforts to abolish the death penalty. I am sure that as long as it is required, this Parliament along with the other European institutions, will continue to give this issue the priority and the importance which it deserves."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples