A/RES/69/186
Moratorium on the use of the death penalty
Recalling the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty,5 and in this regard
welcoming the increasing number of accessions to and ratifications of the Second
Optional Protocol,
Noting the technical cooperation among Member States, as well as the role of
relevant United Nations entities and human rights mechanisms, in supporting State
efforts to establish moratoriums on the death penalty,
1.
penalty;
Expresses its deep concern about the continued application of the death
2.
Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of
resolution 67/1766 and the recommendations contained therein;
3.
Also welcomes the steps taken by some States to reduce the number of
offences for which the death penalty may be imposed, as well as steps taken to limit
its application;
4.
Further welcomes the decisions made by an increasing number of States,
at all levels of government, to apply a moratorium on executions, followed in many
cases by the abolition of the death penalty;
5.
Calls upon all States:
(a) To respect international standards that provide safeguards guaranteeing
protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, in particular the minimum
standards, as set out in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/50
of 25 May 1984, as well as to provide the Secretary-General with information in this
regard;
(b) To comply with their obligations under article 36 of the 1963 Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations,7 particularly the right to receive information on
consular assistance within the context of a legal procedure;
(c) To make available relevant information, disaggregated by applicable
criteria, with regard to their use of the death penalty, inter alia, the number of
persons sentenced to death, the number of persons on death row and the number of
executions carried out, which can contribute to possible informed and transparent
national and international debates, including on the obligations of States pertaining
to the use of the death penalty;
(d) To progressively restrict the use of the death penalty and not to impose
capital punishment for offences committed by persons below 18 years of age, on
pregnant women or on persons with mental or intellectual disabilities;
(e) To reduce the number of offences for which the death penalty may be
imposed;
(f) To establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the
death penalty;
6.
Calls upon States which have abolished the death penalty not to
reintroduce it, and encourages them to share their experience in this regard;
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5
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1642, No. 14668.
A/69/288.
7
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 596, No. 8638.
6
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