The Embassy of France to the OECS Member States in Saint Lucia has the honour to forward the text of a statement made by Mr Bernard Kouchner, Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of the Republic of France, on the occasion of the 8th World Day against the Death Penalty.
———————————————–
“On 10 October 2010 we celebrate the 8th World Day against the Death Penalty, officially recognized by the European Council and the European Union in 2007.
On this occasion, I would like to reaffirm France’s resolute commitment in support of the universal abolition of the death penalty and I urge all countries that continue to apply the death penalty to abolish it, and until that time, to establish a moratorium on executions and death sentences.
I pay tribute in particular to the human rights defenders who fight to tirelessly defend this cause.
A new resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the death penalty will be presented at the 65th UN General Assembly, at the initiative of the European Union. In 2008, under French presidency of the European Union, 106 States voted in support of this resolution. I urge all States to confirm this encouraging vote and to support this text once again, on an even more massive scale.
France joined with Spain and many other countries to establish the International Commission against the Death Penalty, which consists of “individuals of high moral authority from all regions of the world,” including Mr. Robert Badinter for France. This Commission is tasked with establishing a universal moratorium by 2015, with a view towards complete and definitive abolition.
All of these actions stem from the choice made by France nearly 30 years ago, and then confirmed by the inclusion in its Constitution of the principle according to which “No one can be condemned to death.” Today, 139 States are abolitionists in law or in practice, and every year an increasing number of countries resolutely choose humanity.
The path towards universal abolition is still a long one, since countries continue to apply, sometimes on a massive scale, this punishment. Minors and mentally handicapped persons are still too often executed. These executions are sometimes carried out in public in barbaric and appalling conditions. I am thinking here of Mrs. Sakineh Ashtiani, sentenced to death by stoning in Iran, and for whom President Sarkozy and myself are continuing to mobilize our efforts, together with many partners throughout the world.”
I Know your from other site search engine. figured I should take a look around. I read few content on this website. Look forward to checking out your some of your posts again.
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Many thanks!
I don’t have any words to appreciate this.
@Prophet2: to all those who are saying negative things to the Prophet comment, I have this to say – I am a Dominican and I agree with his comment. See Dominica wont change because to many Dominicans are to ignorant to acknowledge that they are doing wrong.. or that they are narrow minded. The first step to development is Acceptance – accept that we have bad habit which limit our progress as individuals thus limiting the development of our Country.
ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE NO GOOD AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
How would some of you comment if it was one of your relative to be executed .. Killed .. whatever…? Then the fact that he sent his son to die for all our sins … Is this also abolished … What about vengeance is mine saith the Lord? Is also love abolished? Compassion?? just to kill?? We will be doing the same that we condemned the person who did the first killing. a vicious circle indeed! Put more curses over our lands?? Then we do not need the judgement of our Father.. We are Judge, jury, Executioner ! The Father sent one to give life and to give it abundantly. The enemy comes to steal, kill, destroy and devour! Whose side are you on?
Bwadiab, you cannot speak for all Dominicans! An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth was before the son died for our sins. We are commanded amongst all other thing to love our neigbour as ourselves even our enemies. I know it can be hard but only when you have a personal relationship with the Heavenly Father, only then you can love as he has loved us. You will see thru the eyes of the Father that all were created in his own likeness. We are also commanded to pray for all our Leaders whether we like them or not and who are we not to like anyone?. The Father loves all of us to the extent that he does not want anyone of us to perish.. no not one.. Remember the two (2) thieves at the side of the son. One was saved why .. He recognised and confessed his sins, accepted the mediator on the tree, and asked for forgiveness. He was saved.. Today thou will be with me in paradise. Today!. the other one was still in his arrogance… Calling on the saviour to save his self and us. Arrogant and proud as we are today.. Devious in our heart. Wishing evil to others.. and the list goes on.. Repent and turn from our wicked and sinful ways and seek the Lord , then only then we can love others unconditionally. What we have to hate is sin and the one who loves sin – the one who has come to kill, steal, devour and destroy us. Using us to do his will and not that of the Father. Let us throw away our carnal body and let the spirit of the Father come within so we can see things in a spiritual light. He is merciful and just to forgive all of us from our sins if we ask him and are truly sorry for our sins. Let us go to his throne of grace and mercy. We are nought without him. We have to trust him at all time. he has not asked anyone of us to do his judgement for him. He alone is worthy to do just this. We would err in this regard. We would take sides and look for our friends and family. He alone is merciful and just.
Blessings to all the readers.
@Prophet2: The Heavenly Father is the creator and one of his comandment.. Thou shall not kill… Prophet2 . Whose Prophet are you … The lord’s or the enemy’s?????
@Prophet2:
Which world that moved on?? the world “super power” is still excecuting ppl. every thing else goes thru ALL the super powers then trickle down to us. so when they ALL stop it come back n talk to us
HANG ‘EM
Keep the death penalty.
Let people know there are consequences to their wicked actions.
An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth
Its strange how a sudden rise in crime can make everyone think of the death penalty.
Why then do we say do not murder? What difference does it make if the state is murdering someone or someone else is? At the end of the day its death all the same, death by the hands of another – murder.
I am on the fence when it comes to the death penalty… however I do think Dominicans should reconsider their desperate plea for the death sentence! There are lots of other ways one can curb the crime problem.
IF YOU KILL, THERE IS NO REASON FOR WHICH TAX PAYERS SHOULD CONTINUE FEEDING AND TAKING CARE OF YOUR MEDICAL BILL. YOU UNJUSTLY MURDER, YOUR BEHIND SHOULD BE LEGALLY MURDERED THROUGH A COURT ORDER.
@Prophet2: Shut up!!!!!
On behalf of the OECS, I would like to apologize to the world for Dominica’s Backwardness. The world has moved on and so should Dominicans but they’re clinging to a history book (their Bible).
@TGIF: Correct!!!
Monsieur Kouchner, if we were still under France, then you could come and tell us what to do. But for now, we keeping the death penalty on our books.
You and your satanic allies can gather all the forces you would like, however, the death penalty will never be removed from the laws of God. The death penalty has been in the Torah, Jesus said not one dot shall be removed from the law, Jesus (p) urged his followers to obey the commandments. He did not come to change the law. Unless your righteousness do not exceed the scribes and pharisees you will not enter the kingdom of God. Lastly, Islam, which is the practice of all prophets legislated the death penalty. Death penalty is here to stay with the people of truth. Your hearts in the UN is inverted. You want crime to increase so that fear and intimidation will continue to reign in the society. You want the poor to kill one another thus the elite survives because he has security cameras all over his compound. You people are extremely ignorant and satanic!
With much respect to you, Mr.Kouchner, please be informed that those of us who live in Dominica, or are of Dominican heritage, unequivocally support the death penalty. Please take this message back to your government.
Ok point taken. NOne of us would like it to happen to a close relative or family member. But, i guess we have the right to KILL NOW. Oh well. And so, Crime continues to increase.
As long as the bible supports it,I do as well. NO so call humanity talk is going to make me think otherwise.(thinking of using the bible to support it’s abolition? Then use it wisely,in CONTEXT.)