[ 30 June 2010 ]

As Mongolia takes an increasingly recognized stand internationally on human rights protection, the United Nations in collaboration with Amnesty International organized a panel discussion on 30 June 2010 on the future of the death penalty in the country.

“The United Nations urges the abolition of the death penalty in all countries, and stands ready to assist Member States to this end” said Ms. Rana Flowers, United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i., during the panel, which took place within the broader framework of United Nations support to the Government on human rights.

“There is a solid and longstanding worldwide trend towards abolition of the death penalty” said Mr James Heenan of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, “More than two thirds of countries in the world have now abolished capital punishment, either in law or in fact. Many other countries, including Mongolia, are observing a moratorium on executions”.  In addition, the number of executions is shrinking globally.

“Mongolia's move sets a leadership example in Asia,” the High Commissioner for Human Rights said earlier this year. “Unfortunately, the Asian region includes some of the world's most prolific executioners, but also some countries like Mongolia that have taken a principled stand on this fundamental issue.”

The meeting analyzed some of the reasons for moving ahead on eliminating death penalty, as well as the process for doing so. Discussants raised a number arguments in favor of abolition, including the obligation of the State to respect the right to life, the high risk of executing an innocent person (with examples provided from Mongolia), and the cruel and degrading nature of the punishment. Experts referred to studies indicating that the death penalty does not deter individuals from committing crime. “The best deterrent to criminality is ensuring that would-be criminals know they have a very high chance of being caught, prosecuted and punished” said Mr. Heenan. ”Rather, allowing the State to kill can pass the message to some people in the community that killing is acceptable in some circumstances”.

The meeting heard strong support for abolition from the National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia, the Ambassador of France and civil society. While Amnesty International Mongolia is campaigning for abolition of the death penalty since 1994, their chairperson, Ms. Ravdan Yanjmaa, mentioned that “research demonstrates that the death penalty is often applied in a discriminatory manner, being used disproportionately against the poor, minorities and members of racial, ethnic and religious communities”

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International and the United Nations in Mongolia urge Mongolia to promptly ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and move towards a permanent ban on the use of the death penalty in Mongolia.

For more information please contact:
Ms. Rana Flowers, UNRC a.i., UNICEF Resident Representative: rflowers@unicef.org
Ms. Catherine Decker, Programme Analyst: catherine.decker@one.un.org