Resolution on the death penalty in the world and the introduction of a European Day

In this resolution, the European Parliament reaffirms its opposition to the death penalty and in particular it supports the 'Strasbourg Appeal' of the First World Congress Against the Death Penalty which took place in June 2001. There is a proposal that a European Day against the Death Penalty should be introduced and the Belgian Presidency should bring to a vote in the UN General Assembly a resolution on the abolition of the death penalty. There is particular regret that the USA has resumed federal executions after a de facto moratorium of 38 years. Russia, Turkey and Armenia are also urged to abolish the death penalty without further delay. A couple of amendments were adopted including one referring to Parliament's 1998 resolution on the trade of human organs transplanted from executed people in China'. A second expressed deep concern at the 'new massive recourse to execution for common crimes and ideological and religious descent in China. There is also deep concern at the inhumanity and secrecy which characterise the executions by hanging in Japan. �