28/11/2005

DEATH PENALTY: CIAMPI BACKS DEATH PENALTY ABOLITIONISTS

Italian president Ciampi stressed his support of the "Sant'Egidio" Catholic NGO's commitment to abolishing the death penalty, a proposition which according to Ciampi is a matter of "global progress". Ciampi met with Justice delegates from African countries attending meetings promoted by Sant'Egidio on the eve of the 4th International Death Penalty Abolition meeting in Rome. "The campaign to abolish the death penalty is fundamental battle for common progress". "Italy leads this battle from the fore, along with the rest of the EU. Cesare Beccaria was an Italian". "The EU has always stressed the need to abolish such inhuman penalty and has always pressured countries outside of international human rights conventions to join, especially as regards the International Civil and Political Liberties Pact". Ciampi spoke of his satisfaction at the "growing consensus that the abolitionist movement is gaining in Africa". "It's an encouraging signal proving that Africa is making progress". "Such advances press develop countries and international organisations to support African economic development".