Death Penalty: Global Abolition

Lord Dubs Excerpts

Wednesday 10th October 2012 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Dubs]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made with their Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty 2010–2015.

[The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness)]

My Lords, the Government regularly raise the death penalty with countries that retain it and fund civil society campaigns around the world in support of abolition. There is some progress. Last year, only 21 countries carried out executions, which was a decrease by more than one-third over the past decade. However, more needs to be done and we are working towards ensuring that more countries than ever support a resolution against the death penalty at the United Nations later this year.

[Lord Dubs]

I thank the Minister for that helpful Answer. Will he confirm that the newly appointed Minister of Justice in Japan has said that he takes a cautious stance on the death penalty? What efforts are the Government making to nudge him down the path towards at least a moratorium? Does the Minister further agree that getting abolition would be easier if it were not for the bad example set by the United States?