Statement for World Day 2009 / Nicolas Baudouin
Nicolas Baudouin / Policy Officer of European Economic and Trade Office
Statement for Death penalty 2009 (中文版 )
Let me first welcome you and thank you for your participation in today's workshop. I'd also like to congratulate Taiwan coalition to end the death penalty for designing and organizing this event. I will just say a few words to outline the issue of the abolition of the death penalty before the discussions start.
As you know, in the world today there are many NGOs holding seminars in the framework of the World Day against the death penalty. Taiwan alliance to end the death penalty is a well known and recognized organization on this matter. The European Economic and Trade Office is one of the sponsors of this workshop.
The aim of this event is to provide teachers with updated and adapted teaching materials for Taiwan which they can use to help their students better understand the reasoning for the abolition of the death penalty.
Support for the abolition of death penalty remains a decision for everyone to take individually. That is why, a better understanding of the death penalty issue is needed to forge an opinion. This is all the more true for the younger generation who needs to be well informed since they will have one day as citizens, to decide.
Today, 139 countries have abolished the death penalty in practice or in law while 58 countries retain and use the death penalty. In the European Union, all countries have abolished death penalty which is regarded as a major step forward in the development of human rights.
In that regard, recent developments in Taiwan are positive with the suspension of executions since 2005 and the ratification in 2009 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the Legislative Yuan. This provides a solid framework for the promotion of human rights in Taiwan and thus for further progress in that field.
Of course, change takes time but it should be kept in mind that all studies tend to show that capital punishment fails to provide deterrence to criminal behavior and represents also an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity. Besides, any miscarriage of justice – which is inevitable in any legal system – is irreversible bearing terrible aftermaths for the victims of such mistrial. Lastly, abolition does not lead to an increase in crime nor is the death penalty a more effective deterrent on crime than other types of punishment.
We think that it is through such events whose main purpose is first and foremost to help teachers raise awareness on death penalty among the young public, that the case for abolition can progress. Discussions and informed debates within civil society are key elements of this process.
I thank you for your attention.