MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the death penalty in Japan

14.2.2012

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Marietje Schaake, Sonia Alfano, Kristiina Ojuland, Robert Rochefort, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Edward McMillan-Scott, Marielle De Sarnez, Graham Watson, Leonidas Donskis, Louis Michel, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0089/2012

B7‑0093/2012

European Parliament resolution on the death penalty in Japan

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the UN resolution 65/206 on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty,

 

- having regard to its resolution of 13 June 2002 on the abolition of capital punishment in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan,

 

- having regard to its resolution of 7 October 2010 on the World day against the death penalty,

 

- having regard to the European Union's statement of 6 April 2011 on the abolition of the death penalty encouraging observer countries to the Council of Europe, including Japan, to abolish the death penalty,

 

A. whereas the EU and Japan share common liberal values on democracy, human rights and a free economy;

 

B. whereas the EU has frequently called on Japan to improve conditions for death row prisoners, introduce a moratorium on capital punishment and ultimately abolish the death penalty;

 

C. whereas, as the leading democracy in Asia and a key member of the international community, an official commitment by Japan towards the abolition of the death penalty will not only be consistent with the international trend but would also send a powerful signal that the right to life must be respected and protected;

 

D. whereas Japan has not carried out any execution since 28 July 2010 and 2011 was the first year without any execution in Japan since 1993.

 

1. Welcomes that fact that no executions took place in Japan in 2011 representing an informal moratorium on capital punishment, and the establishment of a study group to analyse the impact of capital punishment;

 

2. Deplores the recent comments from the new Japanese Minister of Justice indicating that the informal moratorium will come to an end in 2012 and that the results of the study group would be disregarded; asks the High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission to call on the Japanese government to reconsider its position on lifting the moratorium and to guarantee the rights of prisoners facing a death sentence including through adequate provision of information to prisoners, their families and legal representatives;

 

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Commission, the EEAS, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Prime Minister of Japan, the Japanese Government and the Japanese Diet.