European delegate urges Japan to abolish death penalty
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| Japanese men protest against the death penalty in front of the Diet Photo: USA Today |
October 31, 2013: A delegate and a legislator from Europe called on Japan in a forum Thursday to join the majority of countries in the world in abolishing the death penalty.
Maeve Collins, deputy head of the European Union's delegation to Japan, called the death penalty "an affront to human dignity and always a violation of human rights" regardless of circumstance at the forum co-hosted in Tokyo by the European Commission and the Rome-based Community of Sant'Egidio to discuss the abolition of capital punishment.
Collins emphasized the "need for an open debate within Japanese society" on the issue, adding, "It is important that the public receive correct and comprehensive information about executions and the conditions on death row in their country."
The EU charter prohibits member states from retaining capital punishment.
Around 150 of the 193 U.N. member states have either abolished the practice or put a moratorium in place, according to the United Nations.
"The Japanese method of hanging is no better than other forms" of capital punishment such as by stoning or firing squad, Mario Marazziti, head of the Italian House of Representatives' Committee for Human Rights, said through a translator.
"Japanese people have to change their mindset" about the death penalty for change to happen, he added.
Shizuka Kamei, member of Japan's House of Representatives and head of a parliamentary group for the abolition of the practice, said bureaucratic opposition to abolition is gradually waning in the face of international pressure, mainly from Europe.
Japan has carried out six executions so far this year. There are currently 132 inmates with finalized death sentences, according to the Justice Ministry.
