UN calls for continued moratorium on death penalty in DRC News
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UN calls for continued moratorium on death penalty in DRC

The United Nations Tuesday called on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to retain the moratorium on the death penalty following the verdict of the Military Court Ex-Kasai Occcidental in relation to the killings of Ms. Zaida Catalán and Mr. Michael Sharp, former members of the Group of Experts on the DRC.

The DRC has observed a de facto moratorium on executions since 2003. Despite this, the country continues to award capital punishment upon convictions. In May 2021, 30 individuals were sentenced to death, and the recent verdict by the military court added 51 people.

The country has previously considered the abolition of the death penalty. The DRC ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976 but is yet to ratify the second optional protocol to ICCPR aiming to abolish the death penalty.

The United Nations has maintained its opposition to the death penalty over the years. The Secretary-General, António Guterres, has made abundantly clear his opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances and called for the abolition of the same. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, as part of the statement issued on Tuesday, reiterated the Secretary General’s opposition to the use of the death penalty and urged the DRC to maintain their moratorium on the use of the death penalty and proceed to abolish the same entirely. The UN also assured continued support to the Congolese authorities in ensuring justice for the two UN experts and the four Congolese companions, who were killed along with them.