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LCA welcomes strategy to abolish death penalty worldwide
The Law Council of Australia has thrown its support behind the Australian government’s plans to help abolish the death penalty across the globe.
Emma Musgrave
The Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty was unveiled by foreign minister Senator Marise Payne recently, which detailed steps that parliamentarians and other concerned parties could take to end the death penalty globally.
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LCA president-elect Arthur Moses SC highlighted the importance of the Strategy, noting it was an important step for Australia to take.
“Australia’s Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty sends a powerful message that Australia is committed to advocating for the abolition of the death penalty beyond our borders,” Mr Moses said.
“Faced with the prospect of the execution of some of our own citizens abroad, it is important we step up our opposition to the death penalty."
Mr Moses said the issue is a particularly pressing one, considering “some of our neighbours and allies continue to shoot and hang people convicted of crimes”.
“Senator Payne is correct when she says the death penalty is an affront to human dignity. If you believe this, then it is your responsibility to advocate forcefully on a global level and this is exactly what Australia is doing,” he added.
“It is important to note that international progress can and is being made. Just last week Malaysia became the latest nation to announce that they will abolish the practice entirely.”
Mr Moses concluded that the LCA will continue to argue that “no person, anywhere in the world, should ever be subjected to the death penalty”.
“The death penalty is a breach of the most fundamental human right: the right to life,” he said.
“We are extremely pleased that the Australian government is taking a strong position we can all be proud of.”
