By Calvin Brooks
MONROVIA, Oct. 29 (LINA) – The European Union (EU) Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Helene Cave, has called on Liberia to consider actions that will lead to the legal abolishment of the death penalty in its laws.
Ambassador Cave making remarks in Monrovia Tuesday at the commemoration of World Day Against Death Penalty, urged Liberia to join countries that have already abolished death penalty in their laws.
The EU diplomat indicated that an increasing number of State parties to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights have abolished the death penalty by enacting national legislation and so it will be prudent for Liberia to do same.
According to her, the trend towards abolition of the death penalty in Africa continues to gather pace and momentum on the continent.
“The EU encourages countries to ratify or accede to the 1989 Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the abolition of the death penalty,” Cave pointed out.
She added: “Every year, the EU carries out a significant number of declarations and actions on the death penalty in third countries, including individual cases.”
In 2005, Liberia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
Under the Protocol, Liberia was required to impose a moratorium on executions and amend its laws to eliminate the death penalty
LINACB/CBN/PTK
