'Passionate opposition' to death penalty
28 Oct 2009
The government on 28 October reaffirmed its 'passionate opposition' to the death penalty around the world.Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, Minister for Europe Chris Bryant said:
'We in the Foreign Office are absolutely determined to succeed in the campaign to bring an end to the death penalty everywhere in the world.
My arguments against the death penalty are very simple. First, all too often, sentences are wrong. Secondly, the death penalty undervalues life.
Both I and this Government believe that human rights are a seamless garment, and we will always take up these issues, wherever they apply, in every country in the world.
We fight politically on [the death penalty] around the world, but we will also take up representation wherever we possibly can, case by case, and I pay tribute to the consular staff who work in our embassies around the world, because they are absolutely unstinting in that work.
We should have an annual debate in Westminster Hall on the death penalty around the world. I intend to write to the Speaker and to the Leader of the House to suggest that we should do so on the day that is set aside by many organisations such as Amnesty International - of which, I, too, am a member - so that we can showcase our work on this issue.'
Further information
1. The UK has been working for global abolition of the death penalty for many years. In the run-up to the adoption of the anti-death penalty resolution in the United Nation General Assembly last year, the UK was actively involved in efforts which helped to secure a record number of votes (106 countries in favour).
2. The UK is also funding projects around the world, including for example, in Africa and the Caribbean where we are funding activities which aim to reduce the use and scope of the death penalty through litigation.
