Statement by Sergio D'Elia, General Secretary of Hands Off Cain and MP from Italy and Matteo Mecacci, UN Representative of Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party


New York, December 18 2007

After 15 years of campaigning, the approval of the moratorium on death penalty by the UN General Assembly with 104 votes in favor, 54 against and 29 abstensions, represents, for Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party among others, an historical achievement and, we believe, the beginning of the end for the "State killer".

With this resolution, the United Nations, for the first time, declares that the death penalty is a human rights issue and its phasing out represents a serious progress for the world in this field.

For this reason we will start working for the concrete implementation of the moratorium on the death penalty, with a view to its abolition, starting with specific projects in the African continent, where we already can track positive signals, but also in Asia and in the Caribbean.

We will also fully cooperate, if needed, with the UN Secretary General who will present a report on the implementation of this resolution in the next General Assembly.

We appeal to all citizens, parliamentarians and to everyone who worked with us during these past 15 years, to continue that work, to give us the strength and the necessary support to implement this important and historical UN resolution.


Hands Off Cain
New York 212 980 1031