OHCHR welcomes progress made in Zambia and Central African Republic to abolish the capital punishment
The death penalty is incompatible with fundamental tenets of human rights and dignity. Nowadays approximately 170 countries have abolished capital punishment or introduced a moratorium, either in law or in practice. Recently, UN Human Rights Office welcomed the progress made in two African countries - Zambia and the Central African Republic (CAR).
Zambia has maintained a welcome moratorium on the death penalty since 1997 when executions last took place. Finally, on the occasion of Africa Freedom Day, on 24 May, the Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, pledged to abolish the death penalty in the country and stated that he is ready to work with Parliament to end this cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment. The OHCHR welcomed the Zambian President’s pledge to formal abolition, which would be a major step forward for human rights in the country and an opportunity for Zambia to join the growing consensus worldwide for the universal abolition of the death penalty. The OHCHR further called on the Government and Parliament to bolster the President’s pledge with tangible legal reforms, including amending the Penal Code Act and the Criminal Procedure Code Act. The authorities should also re-launch the Constitutional Reform process to expand the Bill of Rights and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, on the abolition of the death penalty.
The Central African Republic has maintained a de-facto moratorium since 1981, and recently the country adopted a new law formally abolishing the death penalty. Once the law enters into force, the CAR will become the 24th African State to abolish the death penalty, further bolstering the global trend towards universal abolition thus contributing to the enhancement and development of human rights. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet welcomed this progress and encouraged the President of CAR, Faustin Achange Touadera, to promulgate the law. OHCHR will continue to support the CAR in its efforts toward implementation of the second Optional Protocol to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights on the abolition of the death penalty.