The Kingdom of Belgium continues to call for the total abolition of the death penalty as the global community marks the World Day against the Death Penalty.
This message is contained in a press statement released on Wednesday stating that the European nation “attaches great importance to the abolition of the death penalty.”
“Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders underlines that Belgium continues to engage for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty. The Minister regrets that a number of countries continue to use the death penalty, even for specific forms of conduct such as blasphemy, adultery and same-sex sexual relations. The death penalty has no place in the 21st century,” the statement reads in part.
It adds, “The ultimate goal for Belgium and the EU is a full universal abolition of the death penalty, whatever the crimes.”
On 10th October every year, the world marks World Day against the Death Penalty which aims at raising awareness on the inhumane living conditions of people sentenced to death.
The 47-nation Council of Europe and the 28-member European Union have published a joint declaration to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October.
The declaration underlines the two organisations’ strong opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances.
It also urges Council of Europe and EU member states to avoid involvement in the use of the death penalty by third countries, for example by acting to prevent the trade in goods that could subsequently be used to carry out executions.
Last year, Belgium joined the “Global Alliance to end trade in goods for torture and capital punishment”, which was launches by EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.
