The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Granted Abolitionist of the Year 2010 Award

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Granted Abolitionist of the Year 2010 Award

On 31st July, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Jean Ping, has received the Award of the "Abolitionist of the Year 2010" during a special ceremony organized in Rome by the Italian-based International Abolitionist Association "Hands Off Cain". "The Award which  is promoted by the Hands Off Cain to recognize the person who, above all others, has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment in the struggle for a moratorium on executions and the abolition of the death penalty, is conferred this year upon  Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission for his  long standing efforts to promote  the abolition of the death penalty first as a member of the government of Gabon, his home country,  and then at the continental level as chairperson of the African Union Commission," the Association said.

In his speech of acceptance of the Award Dr Ping commended the excellent work being done by Hands of Cain and pointed out that Africa is an active partner in the global effort to eradicate the death penalty. Current statistics on the application of the death penalty on the continent shows that about 15 African states have abolished the death penalty in their penal system, about 23 other states have de facto abolished it by not carrying out executions in the past ten or more years, and two of the death penalty retentionist states are observing a moratorium on executions. These efforts, he added, are obviously laudable and demonstrate the will of the African leaders to eradicate capital punishment on the continent. The African Union through its specialised human rights organ, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, has taken decisive steps in addressing the vexing issue of the death penalty.  "I have always believed that there cannot be any justification for taking a life, despite the due process of law, because it will never replace the life that was taken away. This is my motivation for the modest efforts I have made at the national and continental level as well as the level of the United Nations", the Chairperson stated. He called upon all States particularly Member States of the African Union to consider abolishing the death penalty as a form of punishment in light of the Resolutions by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights and the United Nations General Assembly."

The  ceremony was attended by several   members of the Italian Parliament and foreign ambassadors including, Emma Bonino, Vice President of the Italian Senate, Gianni Letta, Undersecretary of the Italian Council of Ministers, Vicenzo Scotti, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary and Marco Panneila, President of "Hands Off Cain". During this ceremony, Hands Off Cain presented its campaign to persuade those countries still practising the death penalty to adopt the U.N. moratorium on executions. The Association's Report 2010 on the Death Penalty covers the most important facts of 2009 and the first six months of 2010. The data confirms the worldwide trend towards abolition, underway for more than a decade.

The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty to which" Hands Off Cain" is affiliated, aims to strengthen the international dimension of the struggle against capital punishment. Wherever the death penalty is in force, it contributes to reducing and, better still, definitively abolishing death sentences and executions. The Coalition facilitates the constitution and development of national and regional coalitions against the death penalty, leads lobbying actions towards international organisations and States, and organises events which have an international impact. In 2003 the Coalition established October 10th as the World Day Against the Death Penalty. Composed of over 60 member organisations, the Coalition was founded in Rome in May 2002.

                                                                                                             Addis Ababa, 3 August 2010