Friday, 10 October marked the World Day Against the Death Penalty, a commemoration that United Nations leaders around the world are supporting.
The international day followed last week’s announcement that Cabinet in Papua New Guinea will soon decide which mode of capital punishment is to be implemented in the country. United Nations Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea, Mr Roy Trivedy acknowledges the Government’s intention to address serious crime. However, he believes introducing the death penalty is not an effective remedy. “There is no evidence that introducing the death penalty will act as a deterrent. Statistics from countries that have abolished the death penalty indicate no increase in serious crime,” Mr Trivedy said. “Implementing capital punishment would expose the people of Papua New Guinea to the risk of an irreversible sanction; one which prohibits the correction of mistakes,” he said. In March this year the United Nations Independent Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions visited Papua New Guinea. In his preliminary findings, Mr Heyns strongly encouraged Papua New Guinea to refrain from using the death penalty, stating: While I acknowledge the magnitude of the challenge that the Government faces when addressing the high levels of killings and violence in the country, I am of the opinion that the death penalty is not the adequate answer to this situation. It provides a false sense of security and diverts attention from the real long term solutions such as better policing, development and education. Mr Trivedy supports the Government’s intent of tackling major crime, but believes there are more effective measures that can be implemented to address the country’s high rate of crime. “Ensuring the police force across the country is well-resourced, both in personnel and equipment, would contribute to achieving consistent and effective law and order which is vital for tackling crime,” he said. Mr Trivedy’s message echoes that of United Nations leaders around the world. Last month at the margins of the General Assembly meeting, UN leaders called for an end to the death penalty. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also recently made a statement on moving away from the death penalty, highlighting that the poor, the mentally ill, the powerless and people from minorities are disproportionate among those executed. A detailed report on the findings and recommendations from the visit to Papua New Guinea by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions will be presented at the 29th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2015.
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