"I hail with great satisfaction" the UN Assembly’s adoption of the resolution for a universal moratorium on death penalty. "It is an epoch-marking result which opens the way, once and for all, to a progressive abolition of death penalty across the world". Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, deputy-secretary general of the Council of Europe, that for a long time has worked in this area, explains to SIR: "The resolution, powerfully wanted and promoted by Italy and supported by the Council of Europe as a whole, has been backed by the states" of several regions of the planet, "which is evidence of the progress made by the abolitionist cause in all continents". De Boer, Dutch, explains that the CoE "successfully promoted the abolition of death penalty in the 47 member states". Thanks to the Strasbourg-based organisation, "for over 10 years our continent has experienced no executions, and we are proud of this". "I hope she concludes the UN will soon adopt a compulsory legislative framework on the abolition of executions, as we have done within the Council of Europe under Protocols 6 and 13 of the European Convention for Human Rights".
