Nepal backs UN resolution banning death penalty

Nepal was one of the 110 nations that voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly draft resolution which called for abolishing the death penalty.

The non-binding resolution calls for a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty. It was adopted on Monday at the General Assembly's Third Committee, which deals with social and humanitarian issues.

India, the United States, Japan, China, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Zimbabwe were among 39 countries to oppose the non-binding resolution in the assembly's rights committee. A total of 36 countries abstained from voting.

Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Israel, Norway, Russia, South Africa and the United Kingdom also voted in favour of the resolution.

The resolution calls on nations to progressively restrict the death penalty's use and not impose capital punishment for offences committed by persons under age 18 or pregnant women. States would also be called on to reduce the number of offences for which the death penalty might be imposed. nepalnews.com