Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on executions in Taïwan

Brussels, 28-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today:

“I deplore the six executions which took place in Taiwan on 21 December 2012. This goes against the worldwide abolitionist trend.

We recognise the suffering of victims and their families when faced with terrible crimes, and we express our sincere sympathy to them. However, the European Union’s strongly held view in favour of the abolition of capital punishment is well known. The European Union considers that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive
development of human rights. The death penalty does not serve as an effective deterrent, and any miscarriage of justice, which is inevitable in any legal system, is irreversible.

I therefore call on Taiwan’s authorities to avoid undertaking new executions but instead to take concrete steps towards reducing the use of capital punishment to allow the resumption of a de facto moratorium.”

###

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:
Michael Mann +32 498 999 780 – +32 2 299 97 80 – Michael.Mann@eeas.europa.eu
Maja Kocijancic +32 498 984 425 – +32 2 298 65 70 – Maja.Kocijancic@ec.europa.eu
Sebastien Brabant +32 460 75 09 98 – Sebastien.Brabant@ec.europa.eu
www.eeas.europa.eu