East Midlands MEP backs World Anti-Death Penalty Day

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 9th Oct 2003

East Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP Bill Newton Dunn has backed the "World Day against the Death Penalty" - 10 October.

"Debates, gatherings, concerts, and numerous other events are being organised all over the world in the hope of having a far-reaching and international impact on the universal demand for abolition", he said.

"Often diplomacy and campaigns are the best way to promote causes like this, where sanctions could be counter-productive. I hope that people will take this opportunity to concentrate their hearts and minds on this issue.

"Currently 85 countries have legally abolished the death penalty, while a further 30 or so no longer apply it in practice.

"I welcome the steps the European Commission has taken to raise the issue in its talks with the United States and China, and the guidelines adopted by the EU Council of Ministers on relations with third countries who have the death penalty.

"Nearly €5 million of the EU budget for 2002 funded anti-death penalty projects.

"The death penalty is especially prevalent in Asia and in Arab states, while the most prohibitionist regions were Europe and also Latin America, where Cuba is the only country still to use it."

ENDS