EU urges abolition of death penalty across the world

The European Union (EU) on Tuesday urged the abolition of death penalty across the world, saying the capital punishment is inhuman.

"We remain strongly committed to the fight against the cruel and inhuman practice of the death penalty throughout the world and we call upon all third countries, that have not yet abolished the capital punishment, to do so without further delay," said EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

The commissioner made the appeal on the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty.

European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini, who is responsible for justice, freedom and security affairs, said: "The administration of state killing via the judicial system serves no useful purpose in preventing crime but can have a brutalizing effect on societies that inflict it."

Frattini held a joint press conference with Terry Davis, secretary general of the Council of Europe, Europe's top human rights watchdog.

All EU member states have signed and ratified the legal document under a Council of Europe convention with regard to the abolition of the death penalty in peace time.

All but five countries -- France, Italy, Latvia, Poland and Spain -- have also signed and ratified a protocol on the abolition of the death penalty in times of war. The five countries have signed but not yet ratified the protocol under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Source: Xinhua