Moldova abolishes the death penalty in law

Public Statement

5 July 2006

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.

As an organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights, Amnesty International works for an end to executions and the abolition of the death penalty everywhere. In its efforts to achieve this, the organization is calling on all governments within the Council of Europe to ratify Protocol 13 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances. Protocol 13 has been ratified by 36 European States and signed by eight others. Amnesty International is also calling on governments to sign and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.

Moldova’s commitment to the above-mentioned protocols was stipulated in the Moldova-European Union Action Plan, approved in December 2004. Amnesty International urges Moldova to extend its commitment to the abolition of the death penalty by ratifying these protocols as a matter of urgency.