Belgium's Queen Mathilde addressed the delegates of the UN Human Rights Council which ended a three week session in Geneva on Friday
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The foreign ministry has welcomed approval by the United Nations Human Rights Council of a resolution on the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.
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“Switzerland believes that the use of the death penalty is incompatible with international law and always entails human rights violations, affecting both the individuals who have been convicted and those who are close to them,” a statement said on Friday.
The resolution, which was tabled by eight countries including Switzerland, won approval from 26 member states on Thursday. A further 13 states rejected the proposal and eight abstained.
The Geneva-based council has agreed to hold panel discussions on the issue in March.
Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter launched a joint declaration with counterparts from 11 other countries a year ago.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York last week, President Simonetta Sommaruga stressed Switzerland’s continuing efforts to do away with the death penalty worldwide.
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Swiss launch joint declaration against death penalty
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“The death penalty is incompatible both with human rights – in particular the fundamental right to life – and with justice systems aimed at rehabilitation rather than retribution.” according to a government statement on Friday. Switzerland is working on this issue at both the international level – namely in the framework of the UN General…
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“Switzerland aims to ensure that those countries which have not as yet abolished the death penalty at least place a moratorium on its use,” he said in a statement released by the foreign ministry. In it, he added that capital punishment was incompatible with the values represented by Switzerland and had an impact on the…
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