MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on death penalty in Japan
14.2.2012
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Sandra Kalniete, Elmar Brok, Mario Mauro, Cristian Dan Preda, Bernd Posselt, Roberta Angelilli, Tunne Kelam, Monica Luisa Macovei, Elena Băsescu, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Sari Essayah, Zuzana Roithová, Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris, Giovanni La Via, Csaba Sógor, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Bogusław Sonik on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0089/2012
B7‑0089/2012
European Parliament resolution on death penalty in Japan
The European Parliament,
- having regard to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 63/168 which calls for the implementation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 62/149 of 18 December 2007 calling for a worldwide moratorium on death sentence and executions,
- having regard to United Nations General Assembly resolution 65/206 of 21 December 2010 on a moratorium on the use of death penalty,
- having regard to the EU Guidelines on the Death penalty,
- having regard to its resolution of 27 September 2007 on a universal moratorium on the death penalty,
- having regard to its resolution of 7 October 2010 on the World Day against the death penalty,
- having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure
A. Whereas 2011 was the first year without any execution in Japan since 1993 and whereas the last two executions in Japan took place in July 2010;
B. Whereas some 130 persons sentenced to death in Japan are currently on death row;
C. Whereas there were 9 executions in 2007, 15 in 2008, 7 in 2009 and 2 in 2010;
D. Whereas Japan is one of only two industrialised democracies that use the death penalty;
E. Whereas surveys carried out in Japan show that a large majority of the population is in favour of the death penalty;
F. Whereas the EU is strongly committed to working towards securing moratoriums on the application of the death penalty by third countries,
1) Welcomes the fact that no execution has been carried out in Japan since July 2010;
2) Calls on the Japanese government and in particular on the new Justice Minister, M. Toshio OGAWA, appointed last January 13, to pursue the policy applied since mid 2010;
3) Encourages public authorities, Members of Parliament, Civil society organisations and media to strengthen a national debate on the death penalty, building on the work done by the study group on the death penalty established in 2010 by the Ministry of Justice;
4) Reiterates its general opposition to the death penalty, which is at odds with a modern criminal justice system and, contrary to popular belief, does not reduce crime rates;
5) Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States and the Government and Parliament of Japan.