OPENING REMARKS BY UNOG DIRECTOR-GENERAL TO FOURTH WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY

Following are the opening remarks by Sergei A. Ordzhonikidze, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, to the Fourth World Congress against the Death Penalty, which was held today at the Palais des Nations:


“I would like to welcome you at the opening of the Fourth World Congress against the Death Penalty, in this very pertinent place, the Palais des Nations.

As you may know, in 2007, the General Assembly adopted resolution 62/149, which called on States that still maintain the death penalty to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty. The General Assembly considered that the death penalty undermined human dignity, that there was no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value and that any miscarriage or failure of justice in the implementation was irreversible and irreparable.

The Secretary-General welcomed the vote as a bold step by the international community. He was particularly encouraged by the support expressed for the initiative from diverse regions of the world, as further evidence of a trend towards ultimately abolishing the death penalty. The large turnout here – with representatives of all stakeholder communities from all regions of the world – confirms this expanding global support for the eventual elimination of the death penalty.

It is very appropriate that you come together here in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room at the United Nations in Geneva, which is the world’s human rights capital. In December 2009, we marked the twentieth anniversary of the Second Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims to bring about the abolition of the death penalty. The steady increase in ratifications – which now counts over 70 countries – is another demonstration of the growing commitment to the abolition of the death penalty.

The introduction of moratoria also plays an important role in facilitating the process in States working towards eradication. As also noted in the General Assembly resolution, a moratorium on the use of the death penalty contributes to the progressive development of human rights. The steadily increasing number of States that have introduced such suspensions must also be welcomed and encouraged to entrench the trend towards elimination.

We must not lose sight of the fact that abolishing the death penalty is a difficult and sensitive process for many societies. That is something we understand at the United Nations. Moving this process forward will require comprehensive and inclusive national debates. It is my hope that the discussions at this World Congress, which will highlight the practical experiences of countries that have either abolished the death penalty or instituted a moratorium, can help to stimulate such national debates.

I have no doubt that this Congress, with frank and inclusive debates, will serve to raise awareness – in all regions and among all States – of the trend towards abolition of the death penalty and will help consolidate support for this important trend. Governments, the United Nations, regional and other intergovernmental organizations and civil society need to be involved as partners in support of this process.

I wish all participants the best of success in your deliberations over the coming two days. You are involved in a humanitarian cause which deserves a lot of respect. Thank you very much.”


For use of the information media; not an official record


DG10/004E