WARSAW, 9 October 2015

Today, ahead of the International Day against the Death Penalty, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed concern over developments related to capital punishment in some OSCE participating States.

Director Link reiterated his call for consideration of the complete abolition of capital punishment and expressed concern about recent statements from political leaders in some OSCE participating States suggesting the reinstatement of the death penalty.

“It is very troubling to hear calls to put the death penalty back on the agenda in some participating States, particularly in instances where such appeals come from the highest level,” Director Link said. “OSCE participating States have committed themselves to keep the question of abolishing capital punishment under consideration and those in high office have a special role in maintaining momentum away from this most severe penalty.”

In light of these concerning developments in some parts of the OSCE region, the ODIHR Director went on to commend participating States that have continued efforts towards abolition.

“I welcome the steps taken by Mongolia to abolish the death penalty in its current revision of the criminal code,” said Director Link. “ODIHR looks with great anticipation to developments there and I hope the number of abolitionist OSCE participating States will soon increase.”

In its annual publication The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area: Background Paper, ODIHR provides an update on the status of the death penalty across the region. This year’s report found that 51 OSCE participating States have abolished the death penalty outright, while four maintain the penalty in law but not in practice. Belarus and the United States remain the only two participating States that continue the use of capital punishment.