Ref: 13/2008

Date: 05 May 2008

PCHR Organizes another Meeting on the Death Penalty in the PNA Controlled Areas

On Monday morning, 5 May 2008, PCHR democratic Development Unit has organized a meeting on the death penalty in areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The meeting was organized in cooperation with Sharek Youth Forum in Khan Yunis, and it was held at the cultural center of the Municipality of Khan Yunis. Twenty university students and graduates and volunteers at Sharek Youth Forum attended the meeting.

The meeting is one in a series of activities carried out by PCHR in the context of the implementation of a project against the death penalty. Such activities aim at raising the awareness of the public and creating a public opinion calling for the abolishment of the death Penalty from Palestinian laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). It further seeks to exert pressure to stop extra-judicial executions carried out by Israeli Occupation Forces against Palestinians in the OPT.

The meeting discussed the escalating international trend towards the abolishment of the death penalty from domestic laws, since it constitutes a violation of the right to life and a form of cruel and inhuman punishment. On 18 December 2007, the United Nations Assembly issued a resolution calling for stopping the use of the death penalty as a prelude to completely abolish this severe penalty.

During the meeting, discussion was opened with the participants who were divided between support and opposition for the death penalty.