(Hong Kong, 10 July 2006) A new Asian network against the death penalty was formed after a group of anti-death penalty activists met in Hong Kong recently to discuss work against the death penalty. This network is called the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADEPAN) and will be officially launched on the World Day Against Death Penalty, 10 October, somewhere in Asia this year.
In a letter sent on 5 July to President Vladimir Voronin and Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, Amnesty International welcomed the Moldovan parliament’s recent vote to remove Clause 3 of Article 24 from the Moldovan Constitution, providing for the death penalty in extraordinary circumstances, thus abolishing the death penalty in law. Amnesty International regards this as an historic and positive step towards bringing the domestic legislation of Moldova in line with international standards and demonstrates to the international community Moldova’s commitment to human rights. There is clearly a global trend towards abolition of the death penalty whereby, to date, 125 countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
