UNGA79: THIRD COMMITTEE: ACTION ON PROPOSALS: GENERAL STATEMENT: MORATORIUM ON THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY
STATEMENT BY YUNEI KIM, FIRST SECRETARY, AUSTRALIAN MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK
18 November 2024
As delivered
Thank you Chair. Australia’s opposition to the death penalty is longstanding, and we are pleased to see that 131 member states voted in favour of this resolution, including my own delegation.
Chair, more than two-thirds of the UN have spoken. They have made a decision to support the moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
We thank and comment Italy and Argentina for their leadership, goodwill and transparency throughout the process.
Chair, too often we see Singapore’s amendment misinterpreted under international law. Too often, the death penalty is applied for drug offences, economic crimes, apostasy, and against individuals for exercising their freedom of expression or political opinion. Too often, these offenses are labelled as treason, espionage or crimes against the state. None of these offences meet the threshold of the “most serious crimes” to which the death penalty must be restricted under international law and standards. The ICCPR’s Human Rights Committee has clearly stated that crimes not resulting directly and intentionally in death can never serve as the basis for the imposition of the death penalty.
UN experts have said, “There is no evidence that the use of the death penalty has a deterrent effect on crimes”. And the reality is that no justice system is completely infallible. Mistakes are made. And the impacts of implementation of the death penalty cannot be reversed.
Colleagues, it is time the UN came together to protect the sanctity of the right to life. When this right is violated, its effects are irreversible and irrevocable.
In two years' time, this resolution will again be presented. In this time, we urge member states who abstained or voted no to re-consider their position on this resolution, which ultimately aims to achieve better protection and promotion of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, and respect for the right to life.