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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010

LESSON 2 UNITED NATIONS DEATH PENALTY DEBATE

LEARNINg ObjEcTIvES

This lesson encourages students to: •understandtheprocessofaUNdebateonaglobal

issue; •presentargumentsforaparticularpointofviewonthe

deathpenalty,includingopposingonesandpersuadeotherstosupportposition;

•criticallyevaluatedifferentviewpointsonthedeathpenalty;

•considerhowtotakeinformedactionontheissue.

SkILLS

Discussion,debate,questioning,reflection;interpretationandcriticalanalysisofsources;presentingaconvincingargumentnotalwaysyourown;advocacyandrepresentation.

cuRRIcuLuM LINkS

PleaserefertoDVD.

PRIOR LEARNINg

Thislessonassumesknowledgeofthedeathpenalty,includingargumentsforandagainstitsuse,andoftheaimsandworkingsoftheUnitedNations.

WhAT YOu NEEd

AvailableontheDVDunlessotherwisestated.For each student: •Anambassadorrolecard,whichincludesacountry

nameandflag,alongwithanaccompanyingsetofambassadorbriefingnotes(foldinhalfanddisplay ondesk)

•TheItalianmotion(oneperstudent)•Forandagainstthedeathpenaltyinformationsheet•Glossary•UniversalDeclarationofHumanRightssummaryversion

(alsoinfolderpocket)For the teacher: •AUNflag•Chair’sbriefingnotes

AbOuT ThIS LESSON

StudentswillholdamockUnitedNations(UN)debateontheworldwideuseofthedeathpenalty.ItislooselybasedonaplanneddebateonthedeathpenaltyduetostartattheUNGeneralAssemblyinOctober2010(seebackgroundbelow).

Eachstudentwillbeappointedastheambassadorofamemberstateandwillbeaskedtoconsiderwhetherthedeathpenaltyshouldberestrictedorevenabolishedaroundtheworld.

Eachambassadorisgivenbriefingnotesoutliningtheirpositiononthedebate.Thesebriefingnotesarefictitious,althougheachsuggestedpositionbroadlyreflectsthecountry’shistoricalbackgroundandincorporatesteachingsfromthatcountry’sdominantreligioustraditionandpoliticalposition.Throughthislessonstudentsareabletoexploretheinfluenceofreligiousteachingsonpoliticaldecision-makingaswellasfurtherconsiderargumentsforandagainstthedeathpenaltyexploredinLesson1.

background to this mock uN debate On18December2007,theUNGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheresolution62/149callingforaworldwidemoratorium(freeze)onexecutionswithaviewtoabolition.Theresolutionwasadoptedbyanoverwhelmingmajorityof104UNmemberstatesinfavour,54againstand29abstentions.ItwasthefirsttimetheUNGeneralAssemblyapprovedamoratoriumontheuseofthedeathpenalty.Inthatdebate,ItalyandMalaysiatooktheleadroles,asinourlessonplan.

AsecondresolutiononthedeathpenaltywasadoptedbytheUNGeneralAssemblyon18December2008ontheimplementationofthe2007UNGAresolution62/149.Supporthadincreased:106statesvotedinfavour,46againstand34abstained.Theseresolutionsarenotlegallybindingbuthavemoralforce.Theyareasteptowardsglobalabolitionofthedeathpenalty.

Asimilarresolutionwillbeconsideredatthe65th UNGeneralAssemblyattheendof2010.Thislessonislooselybasedonthisplanneddebate.

TIME

1-2 lessons/1-2 hours(oruptothreehourstocovermoredetail).



PREPARINg FOR ThE dEbATE

Time: 10-15minutes

Introducethelearningobjectivesasappropriatewiththeclass.Readthroughthe Glossaryasaclassandexplainanddiscusskeywords(egUnitedNations,motion,abolition,moratorium,caucus)fortheUNdebate.

TelltheclasstheywillbeposingasambassadorstotheUN,andexplainthattheyareabouttodebateamotionfromItalycallingforamoratoriumontheuseofthedeathpenalty.Handoutcopiesofthe Italian motion and read throughasaclass.Explainthatyouwillchairthedebate.

Assigneachstudenttoacountryandhandouttheappropriateambassadorrolecards,withsecretbriefingnotes.Theyshouldfoldtheircardinhalfsotheircountrynameandflagisfacingoutwards,andtheirsecretambassador’sbriefingisfacingthem.Explainthatbeingfamiliarwiththeircountryisanimportantpartofthisactivity;studentsshouldreadtheirbriefingbutkeepthecontentsconfidential.

Informthestudentsthatthebriefingnotescomeintwoparts:

•Backgroundinformationaboutthecountrytheyarerepresenting.

•Theirpositioninthedebate,whichgivesstudentspossibleargumentstouse–includingreligious,political,financialandmoralarguments–andsuggestedvotingtactics.

Makeitclearthatthesebriefingsaretotallyimaginary,butlooselybasedontheircountry’shistory,itsmainreligionanditsrecordonthedeathpenalty.Explainthatwhenmakingtheirarguments,studentsshoulddoso‘inrole’(pleaseseeTeachingControversialIssuesonpage8)convincingly–evenifthisisapositionthattheydon’tpersonallyshare.Explainthatambassadors,particularlytheundecidedones,maychangetheirpositionwithinreasonafterlisteningtobothsidesofthedebate.Somepowerfulcountriesmayeventrytopressure,threatenorbribethemintochangingtheirvote.

ThE cAucuS

Time: 25minutes

Explainthatthecaucusreferstoaninformaldiscussionsessionwhereoff-the-recorddiscussionsoccurandambassadorsprepareforthedebate.Thisisusuallythetimeambassadorsplottheirstrategyandworkoutwhoisgoingtopresentthedifferentargumentsfortheirside.Tohaveanychanceofwinningthedebate,ambassadorsmustalsolobbyotherambassadors,particularlytheundecidedones,totrytopersuadethemtojointheirside.

Hand out the For and against the death penalty informationsheet,whichsummarisesthemainarguments.Studentswillalsofindargumentssuggestedontheirbriefingnotes.

LESSON PLAN

countries probably against executions and for the Italian motion

Italy(fortheEU)

Angola

Australia

Azerbaijan

Bhutan

Brazil

Bulgaria

Canada

GuineaBissau

Mexico

Nepal

Poland

SouthAfrica

countries probably for executions and against the Italian motion

Botswana

China

Cuba

Egypt

Indonesia

Jamaica

Malaysia

Singapore

Sudan

USA

uSEFuL LINkS

www.amnesty.org.uk/education Aselectionofdeathpenaltylessonplansandeducationalresources.

www.amnesty.org.uk and www.amnesty.org Thelatestdeathpenaltyreportsandcampaigncases.

www.unesco.org.uk/unmatters UNA-UKteachingpackontheUnitedNations.

hOW TO PREPARE

Inadditiontopreparingtheresources,alsoidentifyconfidentdebatersandgoodorganisersintheclassforthekeyrolesinthisactivity:•TheItalianambassador,whowillpresentthemotion

onbehalfoftheEuropeanUnionandothersponsors.•TheMalaysianambassador,whowillleadthe

oppositiontothemotion.•Keyopponentsofthedeathpenalty,includingSouth

Africa,CanadaandGuinea-Bissau.•Keysupportersofthedeathpenalty,includingChina,

US,SudanandCuba.

Thereare30ambassadorrolecards.Ifyouhavefewerthan30studentsinyourclass,trytogetabalancebetweenambassadorswhowillprobablybeforthemotion,thoseagainstandthoseundecided.Somerolecardsaremorecomplexthanothers(seekeybelow).Assignaccordingly.

Probable country positions on the death penalty in the debate:

2

1

key: =Higherlevelofdifficulty

=Low/mediumlevelofdifficulty

Probably undecided countries

Algeria

ElSalvador

Ethiopia

India

Israel

Lebanon

Malawi



betweenreligions,butalsowithinreligions.Canyouidentifyanyexamplesofthisinthedebate?

4Doyouthinkit’srightthatcountriescanchoosewhetherornottousethedeathpenaltyforthemselves?WhatcouldtheroleoftheUNbeinissuessuchasthedeathpenalty?

Thefollowingpointsmayhelpyoutoexplorethesequestionswithstudents:

•Factorsthatinfluenceacountry’spositiononthedeathpenaltyinclude: –religiousconsiderationssuchastheteachingsoftheofficialreligionofthecountry; –politicalconsiderationssuchaspopularitywithvoters,crimerates,influenceandrelationshipswithothercountries; –economicconsiderationssuchasthecostofkeepingpeopleinprisonversusthecostofexecutingthem.

•Religioustraditionsoftenincludeteachingsbothonjusticethroughretributionandoncompassionorforgiveness,forexampleinChristianity‘aneyeforaneye’(OldTestament)contrastswiththe‘turntheothercheek’(NewTestament).

•Countriescandecidewhattheydowithintheirownboundariesaslongastheydonotabusehumanrights.Pleasenotethatthedeathpenaltyisstillpermittedunderinternationallaw.

•Humanrightslawsareconstantlyevolvingtoensurethattheyarerelevanttoourchangingsociety.OrganisationssuchastheUNtrytobuildaglobalconsensusonissuessuchastheabolitionofthedeathpenalty.Humanrightslawitselfcouldbechangedtoreflectthisevolution.

ExTENSION/hOMEWORk

•ExplaintostudentsthatthedebatethattheyhavebeentakingpartinissimilartoonewhichisplannedtostartattheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyinOctober2010.Askstudentstosubmittheirviewsorconsiderhowtheycouldtakeactiontocampaignfortheabolitionofthedeathpenaltyinadvanceofthisvote.

TAkINg AcTION

•Forthoseinterestedingettinginvolvedindeath penaltyactivismasaresultofthislearning,youandyourstudents can go to www.amnesty.org.uk/lifeanddeath formoreinformation.Ifstudentswishtosetupayouthgroupseepage22ofthisbookletandinformationontheDVD.

3

4

5

Startthecaucus.

•AlltheambassadorswhoareforthemotionshouldmeetwiththeItalianambassadortoworkouttheirmainandstrongestargumentsagainstthedeathpenalty.Askthemtodecidewhoshouldpresentwhicharguments.

•AlltheambassadorswhoareagainstthemotionshouldmeetwiththeMalaysianambassadortoworkouttheirmainandstrongestargumentsforkeepingthedeathpenalty.Askthemtodecidewhoshouldpresenteachargument.

•Undecidedambassadorsshouldmeettogethertodiscusswhichwaytheywillvote.

Theotherambassadorsshouldthenapproachundecidedambassadorstotrytogetthemtovotefor/againstthemotion.

SPEEch PREPARATION

Time: 10minutes

Askyourstudentstopreparetheirspeechesforthedebate.Theyshouldusetheirbriefingnotesandmaketheirspeecharoundoneminutelong.

ThE dEbATE

Time: 30-45minutes

IfpossiblelaytheroomoutwithseatsinahorseshoeshapewiththeChair’sdeskatthefrontwiththeUNflagdisplayedonit.Studentsshouldfoldtheirrolecardinhalfandstanditonthedeskinfrontofthem,sotheflagisdisplayedtotheclasswhiletheambassadorcanreadthebriefingnotes.YoumaywishtosearchtheInternetforaphotooftheUNGeneralAssemblytoshowstudents.

BeginbyintroducingthedebateandsettingthesceneinyourroleasChair.Askstudentstoraisetheirrolecardsifthey’dliketospeak,andchoosedelegatestobeplacedonthespeakerslist.TheninvitetheItalianambassadortoformallyreadoutthemotionandgivehisorherspeech.

Calluptheambassadorsonthespeakerslistonebyonetoaddressthecommittee.Ifpossiblemovefromacountryforthemotiontooneundecidedtoonewhoisprobablyagainst.

Oncethespeakerslistisfinished,callforavotebyashowofhands,firstthoseforthemotion,thenthoseagainstthemotion,andthenthoseabstaining.

ThE dE-bRIEF

Time: 15-20minutes

Askstudentstocomeoutoftheroleanddiscussthefollowingkeyquestionsinsmallgroupsorasaclass,orsetthemasquestionsforhomework:

1Howdidyoufindyourexperienceofbeinganambassador?Hasitchangedyourperceptionofthedeathpenalty?

2Whatfactorsinfluencethepositionthatacountrytakesonanissuelikethedeathpenalty?

3Religiouspositionsonmoralissuesoftenvarynotonly

Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.


AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESALgERIAALgERIA

Your country is:Abolitionist in practice. Whilejudgescontinuetoissuethedeathsentence–particularlyincasesrelatedtoterrorism–Algeriahasnotexecutedaprisonersince1993whenanofficialmoratorium(suspension)onexecutionswasdeclared.In2009,100peopleweresentencedtodeath. country informationAlgeriaislocatedinNorthAfricaandhas34.9millionpeople. Your position in the debateAlgeriansarelockedinavigorousdebateoverthesuspensionofthedeathpenaltyintroducedin1993.In2008Algeriaco-sponsoredandvotedinfavouroftheresolutiononamoratoriumontheuseofthedeathpenaltyattheUNGeneralAssembly.However,in2009thegovernmentrejectedabilltoabolishthedeathpenaltyproposedbyanoppositionparliamentarian.

Youmightarguethat,withamoratorium(freeze)ontheuse

ofthedeathpenaltyinplaceforyears,capitalpunishmentisoutdated,andthepenaltyforseriouscrimesshouldbelifeimprisonment.Thedeathpenaltyalsoharmsthenation’sreputation.

ThevastmajorityofthepopulationisMuslim.TheHolyQur’ansaysthateveryonehastherighttolife,exceptwhenacourtoflawdemandsthedeathpenalty:‘DonotkillaSoulwhichAllahhasmadesacredexceptthroughthedueprocessoflaw.’ItalsosaysintheQur’anthattwoofthemostimportantofAllah’smostbeautifulnamesareal-Rahman(theMerciful)andal-Rahim(theCompassionate)whichsuggeststheimportanceofforgivenessinIslam.

Youarecurrentlyundecidedaboutwhichwaytovoteorwhethertovoteatall.Perhapsthedeathpenaltyshouldneverbeusedanymoreinyourcountry,orjustinextremecasesagainstterrorists?Inthecaucus,listentobothsidesoftheargument.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESANgOLAANgOLA

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Thedeathpenaltywasabolishedin1992.In2010,AngolaapprovedanewConstitutionthatkeepsthedeathpenaltybanned. country informationAngolaisacountryinWesternsub-SaharanAfricawith apopulationof18.5million. Your position in the debateAngolasufferedabrutal27-yearcivilwarfrom1975;approximately500,000werekilled.Youmightarguethatyourcountryknowsthehorrorandpaindeathrepresentsandwillalwaysdefendtherighttolife.Andthedeathpenaltyisthecruellest,mostinhumananddegradingformoftorture.

Around40percentofAngolansareChristians.Fromareligiousperspective,youmightarguethatJesusChristsufferedtheinjusticeofthedeathpenaltybycrucifixion

andhepreachedforgivenessratherthanretribution–soyouopposeexecutionsonreligiousgrounds,fullstop.

JointheItaliansinthecaucus.TrytopersuadeBotswana,SouthAfrica,MalawiandotherfellowAfricannationstosupporttheItalianmotion.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESAuSTRALIAAuSTRALIA

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Australiaabolishedthedeathpenaltyin1984.Thelastexecutiontookplacein1967. country informationAustraliaisanislandcontinentintheSouthPacificwithapopulationof21.3million. Your position in the debateThedeathpenaltyiswidelycondemnedbymostAustralians,andtherearenoplanstorestoreit.AustraliahassignedtheSecondOptionalProtocoltotheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,whichaimsattheabolitionofthedeathpenalty.In2010theFederalParliamentpassedlawsensuringthedeathpenaltycanneverbereintroducedbyanystateorterritoryinAustralia.Youcouldarguethisisthehallmarkofacivilisedsociety,andwhenmistakesaremadetheconsequencesareserious.Peoplehavebeenexecutedwhoarelaterfoundtohavebeeninnocent.Thedeathpenaltyisirrevocable(can’tbereversed).

Arguethatlifeimprisonmentisabetteralternative.Therecanneverbeanyjustificationfortortureorforcrueltreatment.Liketorture,anexecutionconstitutesanextremephysicalandmentalassaultonanindividual.Itdoesn’tgivecriminalsthechancetorepent.

Youmightalsoarguethatthestatecarryingoutexecutionsturnsusallintokillers.Murderingpeoplewhomurderishypocritical.

Thereisnoofficialreligioninyourcountry.

JointheItaliansinthecaucus.Youwishtheirmotionwasstronger,andthatitcalledfortheendofallexecutionsallovertheworldimmediately.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESAZERbAIjANAZERbAIjAN

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Youareproudtohaveabolishedthedeathpenaltyin1998. country informationAzerbaijanislocatedontheborderofEasternEuropeandWesternAsia.Ithas8.8millioncitizens. Your position in the debateYourcountryhasratified(confirmeditwillabideby)aninternationaltreaty(SecondOptionalProtocoltotheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights)aimingattheabolitionofthedeathpenalty,withtheoptiontouseitintimesofwar.

Youbelievethetimehascometoabolishthedeathpenaltyworldwide.Youcouldarguethatexperienceshowsthatexecutionsbrutalisethoseinvolvedintheprocessandnowherehasitbeenshownthatthedeathpenaltyhasanyspecialpowertoreducecrimeorpoliticalviolence.

Ninety-threepercentofthepopulationisMuslim,although

thegovernmentissecular(notbasedonareligion).AzerbaijanwasthefirstdemocraticandsecularcountryintheMuslimworld.Fromareligiousperspective,pointoutthatIslamisafaithofpeace,justiceandserviceandacivilizingforceforhumanity.ThemostcommonMuslimgreetingis‘As-Salámu`Alaykum’whichmeans‘Peacebeuponyou’.Islamforbidsviolence,especiallyagainstinnocentanddefencelesspeople.TheHolyQur’anpraisesthemerciful(forgiving).Youmightarguethatthewholeprocessofcapitalpunishmentundermineshumandignitytreatinghumanlifewithtotaldisrespect.

JointheItaliansinthecaucus.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESbhuTANbhuTAN

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. In2004theKingofBhutanissuedaRoyalDecreeabolishingthedeathpenalty.Thelastknownexecutiontookplacein1964. country informationBhutanisanAsianmountainkingdomofaround 697,000people. Your position in the debateBhutanisaBuddhistnation,andcapitalpunishmentisseenasacontradictiontothebasicbeliefsofBuddhism.Youbelievefirmlyintheprincipleofnon-violenceandrespectforlife,ahimsa.Thisisaruleofconductthatbarsthekillingorinjuringoflivingthings.Soinyourbelief,thedeathpenaltyisnotjustifiable.

YoumightaddthatrespectforlifeisanideaoffundamentalimportanceintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights:

Article3‘EveryonehastheRighttolife…’

Article5‘Nooneshouldbesubjectedtotortureortocruel,inhumanordegradingtreatment…’




AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESbOTSWANAbOTSWANA

Your country is:Retentionist. ThedeathpenaltyhasbeeninforceheresincethecountrygainedindependencefromBritainin1965.Itisappliedformurder,treasonandpiracy.In2009,twopeopleweresentencedtodeathandonepersonwasexecuted. country informationBotswanaisacountryof1.9millionpeopleinSouthernAfrica. Your position in the debateBotswana’sstanceonthedeathpenaltyisn’tabouttobeswayed.Executionscannottakeplacewithoutawarrantsignedbythepresident.Clemency(leniencyormercy)hasneverbeengranted.Defendyourpositionbysayingitisthewillofthecitizens.

YouarealsoaChristiannation.PointoutthattheBibleclearlycallsfor‘aneyeforaneye’.Ifyoutakesomeone’slife,youforfeityourown.

YouopposethemotionfromItalyandthe‘bullyboy’tacticsoftheformercolonialcountriessuchastheUK,whoyoufeelarealwaystryingtotellformercolonieshowtomanagetheirinternalaffairs.

Inyourspeechyoumightaskthatothercountriesthataresopassionatelyinfavouroftherighttolifeshouldconsidertheirotherpoliciessuchasinvolvementinwarsandmilitaryoperations.

JointheMalaysiansinthecaucus.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESbRAZILbRAZIL

Your country is:Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only. Capitalpunishmentwaslastusedasaformofpunishmentin1876andhasnotbeenofficiallyusedsincetheproclamationoftheRepublicin1889.Itwasfinallyabolishedbythe1988Constitution,withtheexceptionofcrimesoftreasoncommittedinwartime. country informationBrazilisthelargestcountryinSouthAmericaandhasapopulationof193.7million. Your position in the debateBrazilregardsthedeathpenaltyasacruelandinhumanpunishmentthatdegradeshumanlife.Brazilisalsooneofthefewcountriesintheworldthathasabolishedlifesentences–acitizencannotspendmorethan30yearsinprison.Arguethatweshouldbethinkingofawaytorehabilitatecriminals,andlawsneedtoensurejusticenotrevenge.

MostBraziliansareCatholicsandbelievethatforgivenessisakeyvalue.

In2008Brazilco-sponsoredandvotedinfavouroftheresolutiononamoratorium(freeze)ontheuseofthedeathpenaltyattheUNGeneralAssembly.




AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESbuLgARIAbuLgARIA

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. YourcountrywasinfavourofthedeathpenaltywhenitwasaCommuniststateandthroughoutthe1980shadoneofthehighestexecutionratesinEurope.However,Bulgariachangeditsviewsandpracticesandabolishedthedeathpenaltyin1998. country informationBulgariaisinEasternEuropeandhasapopulationof 7.5million. Your position in the debateBulgariajoinedtheEuropeanUnionin2007.TheEUisopposedtotheuseofcapitalpunishmentinallcasesandinallcircumstances–youwillbekeentoshowyourcommitmenttotheEUandhumanrights.

Youmightarguethatthereisnohumanewaytoexecuteahumanbeing;everymethodusedtokillpeopleisverycruel.Also,anymiscarriageofjustice,inevitableinanylegalsystem,isirreversible.

MostpeopleinBulgariaareOrthodoxChristians.Youmightarguethatkillinganyonethroughanexecutioniswrong,asitwouldpreventthepossibilityofapersonmakingamendsfortheiractions.




AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTEScANAdAcANAdA

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Canadaabolishedthedeathpenaltyforallcrimesin1998.Thelastknownexecutionwasin1962. country informationCanadaisthesecondlargestcountryintheworld, afterRussia,buthasonlyonefifthofthepopulation– 33.6millionpeople. Your position in the debateWhenCanadaabolishedthedeathpenalty,manypeoplesaidthatthemurderratewouldrise.Butthemurderrateactuallydropped.Inyouropinionthisshowsthatthethreatofexecutiondoesnotactasadeterrent(iethefearofcapitalpunishmentifyouarecaughtactuallydoesn’t stopmurder).

MostCanadiansareCatholics.PopeJohnPaulIIwasstronglyagainstcapitalpunishment.In1995hecalledthethousandsofpeopleondeathrowawaitingexecutions‘amacabreassemblylineofdeath’.

Youmightarguethatcapitalpunishmentisthepremeditatedandcold-bloodedkillingofahumanbeingbythestateinthenameofjustice.

JointheItaliansinthecaucus.TalkwithAlgeriaandtrytopersuadetheambassadortovotewithyou.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESchINAchINA

Your country is:Retentionist. Chinaexecutesmorepeoplethantherestoftheworldputtogether.However,statisticsremainclassifiedasstatesecretsandwhileexecutionsnumberedintothethousandsin2009,thegovernmentdidnotreleaseactualfigures.Approximatelysixty-eightoffencesinChinaarecapitalcrimes(egpunishablebythedeathpenalty)includingtaxevasion,killingpandasandstealingantiques.Executionsarecarriedoutbyshootingabulletintothebackoftheheadorbylethalinjection. country informationChinaisthemostpopulouscountryintheworldwith 1.3billioncitizens. Your position in the debateYoumightarguethatyourcountryisfacedwithacrimewave.LotsofcriminalsaretryingtodestroyChinaandtheCommunistsystem.Inyouropinion,assoonassomeonehasbeenfoundguiltyofacapitalcrime,theyshouldbequicklyandhumanelykilled.IfotherUNmemberstates

followedyourexampletherewouldbemuchlesscrime intheworld.

Likemorethan80percentofChinesepeople,youdon’tbelieveinreligionatall.Asanatheist,religiousconsiderationsaboutthedeathpenaltyareofnointeresttoyou.

Arguethatthisdebateisnotahumanrightsissue.Thedeathpenaltyisnotbannedunderinternationallaw.Thisisjustanattemptbysomestatestointerfereintheinternalaffairsofyourcountry.

ArgueagainsttheItalianmotion.JoinMalaysiainthecaucus.WorktogetherwithMalaysia,theUSAandCuba.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTEScubAcubA

Your country is:Retentionist. Cubaretainsthedeathpenaltyaspunishmentformurder,hijacking,thecorruptionofchildren,drugsmugglingandarmedrobbery.However,itstoppedcarryingoutexecutionsin2003.Threepeopleremainedondeathrowattheendof2009chargedwithterrorism;mostdeathsentenceswerecommutedtoprisontermsof30yearsbyPresidentRaúlCastroin2008. country informationCubaisanislandstateintheCaribbeanwithapopulationof11.2million. Your position in the debateDespitecommutingdeathsentences,PresidentRaúlCastrosaid:‘Itwouldbeirresponsibleandingenuoustorenouncethedissuasivepowerthatcapitalpunishmenthasontherealterrorists.’YoumightarguethatCubaneedsthedeathpenaltytodealwithasmallnumberofvillainsandterroristswhoareresponsibleforthemostseriouscrimes.Ifyoudidn’thavethethreatofexecution

(shootingbyfiringsquad)therewouldbechaosonthestreetsofHavana.LikemostCubansyouareanatheistsocialist,soreligiousideasareofnoparticularinterest toyou.

JoinMalaysiainthecaucus.TrytogetElSalvadorandBraziltovotewithyou.ButwatchhowtheUSAisgoingtovote.Traditionally,CubahasbeensoagainsttheAmericansandtheiranti-Cubanpoliciesthatitwouldvotetheoppositewayorabstain.SincetheelectionofBarackObamaaspresidentoftheUSA,however,CubaandtheUSAhavebeguntothawrelations.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESEgYPTEgYPT

Your country is:Retentionist. Egyptretainsthedeathpenalty.In2009,atleast269deathsentenceswereimposedbythecourts,andatleastfiveprisonerswereexecuted. country informationEgyptisthemostpopulouscountryintheMiddleEastwith83millionpeople. Your position in the debateYoumightarguethatexecutionsaretheonlysolutiontohaltEgypt’ssoaringcrimerates.Thisincludesdrugpusherswhocauseuntoldsocialdamage,andextremistgroupswhoconstituteagraveterroristthreat.

MurderisalsoabigproblemonthestreetsofCairo.Thosewhocondemncapitalpunishmentagainstmurderersasbeingtootoughandcruelshouldbeaskedtothinkaboutwhathappenstothevictims?Whatabouttheirreversiblelossoftheirfamilies?Youmightalsoargueitismore

humanetoputsomeonetodeaththantokeepthemlockedupforyears.

Pointoutthatyoursocietyhasitsownbeliefsandstandards,andyouhavenointerestinimitatingothersocietiesinthismatter.

Egyptisasecular(non-religious)stateandreligiouspoliticalpartiesarebanned.

JoinMalaysiainthecaucus.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESEL SALvAdOREL SALvAdOR

Your country is:Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only. ElSalvadorabolishedthedeathpenaltyforordinarycrimesinpeacetimein1983. country informationElSalvadorisasmallCentralAmericanstatewithapopulationof6.2million. Your position in the debateInElSalvadormoderateleft-wingPresidentMauricioFunes,electedin2009,isunlikelytorestorethe deathpenalty.

Youmightarguethatexecutionsareirrevocable(ieoncesomeoneisexecutedthesentencecan’tbeundone).Thedeathpenaltyisadangeroussentenceespeciallyincountrieswherethelegalsystemisweak.Dreadfulmistakescanandhavebeenmadebysomeofthebestcourtsintheworld,sendinginnocentpeopletotheirdeaths.

Fromareligiousperspective,yousupporttheCatholicCatechism(officialteachingoftheCatholicChurch)thatdecreesthedeathpenaltytobepermissibleonlyinrarecircumstances,whenasocietydoesnothavethemeanstokeepitscitizenssafefromcriminals,forexamplein wartime.

JointheItaliansinthecaucus.Listentobothsidesofthedebate.SpeaktotheCanadianambassadorwiththeCubansandBrazilians.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESEThIOPIAEThIOPIA

Your country is:Retentionist. Ethiopiastillkeepsthedeathpenaltyinlawaspunishmentformurder,butitisrarelyused.Therehaveonlybeentwoexecutionssince1991.In2009atleast11peopleweresentencedtodeathbutnoexecutionswerereported. country informationEthiopiaisacountryinEastAfricawithapopulationof82.8million. Your position in the debateSeveraldozenpeopleyouconsiderwarcriminalsandterroristshavebeencondemnedtodeathinEthiopiainrecentyears.Thedeathpenaltyisanimportantdeterrantandcountriesshouldbeabletouseitforthispurpose.HoweveryourPresident,anOrthodoxChristian,usuallycommutesdeathsentencestolifeimprisonment.ThismayreflectthereverenceforlifeandforgivenessthatareofprofoundimportanceintheChristianfaith.

Ethiopianpublicopinionandthefamiliesofthevictimsofcapitalcrimesdowantexecutions,though,andconsidertheyarealegalandeffectiveformofpunishment.Andifonlyonepotentialmurderer,assassinorterroristisdeterredfromcommittingacapitalcrimebecauseheorshefearsthedeathpenalty,ithasworkedtokeepinnocentpeoplesafe.

Youareundecidedabouthowtovote.Listentothedebate.PossiblyvoteagainsttheItalians,theoldcolonialpower,ordon’tvoteatall.TalkwithfellowAfricanrepresentativesfromSouthAfricaandMalawi.SeewhatSudanisgoingtodoandperhapsvotetheexactoppositewaytothem(becauseofEthiopia’shistoryofdisputeswiththisneighbouringcountry).



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESguINEA-bISSAuguINEA-bISSAu

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Yourcountryhasbeenabolitionistsince1993,withthelastknownexecutionhavingtakenplacein1986. country informationGuinea-BissauisasmallcountryinWestAfricawithapopulationof1.6million.

Your position in the debateMorethanhalfthepeopleofGuinea-BissauareAnimists(whichreferstoareligiousbeliefthatsoulsorspiritsexistinanimals,plantsandotherentities,aswellashumans).MostoftherestareMuslim.Animistsbelieveinaworld ofspiritsinlivingcreaturesandnature.Asananimist youhaveaprofoundrespectforlifeandopposethe deathpenalty.

Inyourspeechyoucouldalsoarguethatcourtsmaketerriblemistakes.Innocentpeoplecanbefoundguiltyandbekilled.ThishashappenedinEnglandandAmericaandinmanyothercountries.

Youmightalsohighlightthedisgustthatmostpeoplefeelwhentheyhearaccountsofindividualsbeingtortured.Surelyweshouldfeelevenmoredisgustedbytheuseoftorturemethodstodeliberatelykillsomeonebyhanging,beheading,lethalinjection,electrocutionorshooting todeath.

JointheItaliancaucus.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESINdIAINdIA

Your country is:Retentionist. Indiaretainsthedeathpenaltycarriedoutbyhangingasthefinalpunishmentforthemostseriouscrimes,butitwasdecidedbytheSupremeCourtin1983thatitshouldonlybeusedonthe‘rarestofrareoccasions’.UnderIndianlaw,thedeathpenaltycanbeimposedfor:murder,robberyleadingtodeath,encouragingthesuicideofachildorinsaneperson,wagingwaragainstthegovernmentandencouragingmutinybythearmedforcesandterrorism.Atleast50peopleweresentencedtodeathin2009althoughnoexecutionstookplace. country informationIndiaisthesecondmostpopulouscountryintheworldwithnearly1.2billioninhabitants. Your position in the debateIndiavotedagainstadeathpenaltymoratoriumintheUNGeneralAssemblyin2007and2008.Butwithnoexecutionssince2004,yourcountryisstuckbetweenjoiningtheabolitiontrendandclingingtothenotionthat

thedeathpenaltyisaneffectivemeasureagainstcrime andterrorism.

Eighty-fivepercentofIndia’speopleareHindu,13percentMuslim,2percentSikhand2percentChristian.Hinduteachingscanbeusedtojustifyargumentsbothforandagainstthedeathpenalty.Hinduismteachesahimsa(non-violence)andtheholyHinduscripture,theMahabharata,containspassagesagainstthedeathpenalty.However,Hinduteachingalsosaysthatdeathislimitedtothephysicalbodybecausethesoul(atman)isrebornintoanotherbodyupondeath.Intheprocessofreincarnation,humanswhohavecommittedseverecrimessufferalowerre-birth,andthereforedeathcanbringjustice.

Youareundecided.YoucouldvoteagainsttheItalianresolutionoryoucouldabstain.TalkwiththeotherAsiancountriesinthedebatesuchasBhutan,Nepal,China,IndonesiaandSingaporebeforemakingupyourmind.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESINdONESIAINdONESIA

Your country is:Retentionist. Forthefirsttimesince2004,noexecutionswerereportedin2009.However,atleast117peopleremainedundersentenceofdeathand10peoplewereexecutedbyfiringsquadin2008.Crimesthatcanresultinthedeathpenaltyincludedrugtrafficking,murderandterrorism. country informationIndonesiaconsistsofachainofislandsbetweenAsiaandAustralia.Ithasapopulationof230millionandtheworld’slargestMuslimpopulation. Your position in the debateYouwillarguestronglyagainstItalyandtheEUresolution.PresidentYudhoyonoisinfavourofwideningtheuseofthedeathpenalty,incontrasttotheglobaltrendtowardsabolishingthedeathpenalty,andhasfoughtagainstAustralia’spressuretoendthepractice.

YouarefuriouswiththewaythattheWestistryingasusualtointerfereintheinternalaffairsofAsiancountries.

WhatbusinessisitoftheirshowIndonesia’slegalsystemdealswithdrugtraffickers,traitorsandmurderers?SaythattheUNshouldbedealingwithrealhumanrightsquestionslikehungerandpoverty.

Morethan80percentofthepopulationareMuslim.Islamicteachingallowsthedeathpenalty,butstressesmercyandcompassion.

JointheMalaysiancaucus.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESISRAELISRAEL

Your country is:Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only. Thedeathpenaltyisonlycarriedoutinyourcountryinextremecircumstances,forconvictionsforgenocide,warcrimes,crimesagainsthumanity,crimesagainsttheJewishpeopleandtreasoninwartime.OnlyonepersonhasbeencivillyexecutedinthehistoryofIsrael–NazimassmurdererAdolfEichmanwhowashangedin1962. country informationThe Israeli state is situated in the Middle East and has a populationof7.2millionpeople. Your position in the debateIsrael’srareuseofthedeathpenaltyishighlyinfluencedbytheJewishfaith.UnderJewishlawintheTalmudinancienttimesthedeathpenaltywasthepunishmentfor36offencesfrommurderandrapetoidolworshipanddishonouringtheSabbathday.TheTalmudsays:‘Whoevershedsthebloodofmanbymanwillhisbloodbeshed,forinhisimagedidGodcreateman.’

However,thegreatJewishteacherMosesMaimonideswrote:‘Itisbetterandmoresatisfactorytoacquitathousandguiltypersonsthantoputasingleinnocentonetodeath.’

MostJewishscholarsandreligiousleaderstodaybelievethatthedeathpenaltyshouldremaininuse.

Youareundecidedabouthowtovote.PerhapssupporttheItalianmotion.Perhaps,althoughIsraeliseffectivelyanabolitionistcountryinpractice,youmaydecidenottovoteatall.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESITALYITALY

You have an important role to play in this debate. You have to present the European union motion that is also supported by other member states of the uN.

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. ItalyabolishedthedeathpenaltyattheendofWorldWarIIin1947,andhasbecomealeadingnationcampaigningagainsttheuseofthedeathpenaltyroundtheworld.

country informationItalyisaEuropeancountryof59.9millionpeople. Your position in the debateItalyisstronglyagainstthedeathpenaltyandisworkingforaninternationalbanofthepractice.ItproposedtheUNmoratoriumontheDeathPenaltyin2007beforetheGeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNations,urgingallcountriestosuspendcapitalpunishmentwithaviewtobanningit.Aftertheresolution’sapproval,Italy’sforeignministerdeclared:‘Nowwemuststartworkingontheabolitionofthedeathpenalty.’

Youaretoleadandorganisetheambassadorsofcountriesthatsupportyourmotion,andwillarguethatexecutions,howevertheyarecarriedout,arecruel,inhumananddegradingformsofpunishment,whetherbythehangman’srope(themostcommonmethod),thegun(China),poisongas(USA),lethalinjection(USA),thesword(SaudiArabia),stoning(Iran)ortheelectricchair(USA).

NinetypercentofyournationisCatholic.YougiveemphasistotheCatholicteachingofthesanctityoflife:thatGodistheLordoflifeandthathumanlifeatallitsstagesissacred.Youarguefortheuniqueworthanddignityofeachperson,ascreaturesmadeintheimageandlikenessofGod.Youalsobelieveinstewardship,thathumanbeingsarecalledtocareforlife,nottodestroyit.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESjAMAIcAjAMAIcA

Your country is:Retentionist. In2009,twopeopleweresentencedtodeath;therewerenoexecutions.Jamaicahaseffectivelyhadamoratorium(freeze)onhanging(themethodusedforexecution);thelastexecutiontookplacein1988.InJuly2009thePrimeMinisterdeclaredthatthegovernmentwouldhonourParliament’sdecisionin2008toretainthedeathpenalty,despitepressuretoabolishit. country informationJamaicaisanislandintheCaribbeanwithapopulationof2.7millionpeople. Your position in the debateAlthoughthedeathpenaltyissuspended,younowwantJamaicatoreintroduceit–mainlyinresponsetoyourcountry’sfrighteningmurderrateandanincreaseinviolenceagainstchildren.In2009,gangviolencereportedlyresultedin1,198deathsbetweenJanuary andSeptember.

Arguethatthedeathpenaltyistheonlyeffectivewaytostopthiscrimewave.

JamaicaisalargelyChristiancountry.Youarguethatanyonewhotakesawayasacredhumanlifeshouldalsohavetheirlifetakenaway,anditisreassuringthatnoexecutedpersonwilleverkillagain.

JointheMalaysiansinthecaucus.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESLEbANON LEbANON

Your country is:Retentionist. Lebanonstillretainscapitalpunishmentinlaw,andatleast41peoplewereundersentenceofdeathattheendof2009.However,thelastexecutionswerecarriedoutin2004.In2008theMinisterofJusticeproposedadraftlawtoabolishthedeathpenalty,butithadnotyetbeenapprovedbytheendof2009. country informationLebanonisasmallcountryintheMiddleEastwith4.2millionpeople. Your position in the debatePerhapsitisnowtimeforLebanontotaketheplungeandabolishthedeathpenaltyforever–orperhapsnot.In2008,theMinisterofJusticesaid,‘Sciencehasproventhatthereisnocasualrelationshipbetweencrimeandthepresenceorabsenceofthedeathpenalty.’

However,someLebaneseofficialscontinuetoadvocatethedeathpenalty,arguingitkeepslaw-abidingpeople

safe.ItisappliedtothoseconvictedofspyingforIsrael,hightreason,premeditatedmurder,oractsof‘terrorism’thatendangerstatesecurity.

Listencarefullytothedebate.FindoutwhatsomeoftheothercountriesintheMiddleEastaregoingtodo.PerhapshaveawordwiththedelegatesfromAlgeriaandAzerbaijan.PerhapsyouwillvoteforamoratoriumandsupporttheItalianmotion.Perhapsyouwillvoteagainstit.Perhapsyouwillabstainandnotcastyourvoteatall.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESMALAWIMALAWI

Your country is:Abolitionist in practice. InApril2007theHighCourtruleddeathsentencesonallprisonersondeathrowunconstitutional.TheCourtfoundthatthedeathpenaltyviolatedtherighttolifeandamountedtoinhumanpunishment.Asaresultthe23prisonersondeathrowwereresentenced.Thelastexecutiontookplacein1992. country informationMalawiisinSouth-EastAfricawithapopulationof 15.3million. Your position in the debatePublicopiniononthedeathpenaltyinMalawiisdivided.Somefearabolishingitwouldgiverisetoseriouscriminaloffences.Othersarguethatthedeathpenaltydoesnotdeterpeoplefromcommittingseriouscrimessowhatisthepurposeofmaintainingit?Thereareotheralternatives,includinglifeimprisonment.

MostofMalawi’scitizensareChristian.ThePresident,BinguwaMutharika,isalsoaChristian.Heisagainstthedeathpenalty.Inthepasthehascommutedcapitalsentencestolifeimprisonment,includingforthreepoliticianswhowereplottingtoassassinatehim.

Youareundecidedabouthowtovote.Possiblyabstainfromvoting.TalkwithfellowAfricans,SouthAfricaandAngola,beforemakingyourmindup.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESMALAYSIAMALAYSIA

You have an important job to play in this activity. You are to lead and organise the ambassadors of countries that, like yours, are against Italy’s motion.

Your country is:Retentionist. Atleast68peopleweresentencedtodeathbytheHighCourtsin2009whilethenumberofexecutionswasunknown.Crimescarryingthedeathpenaltyincludedrugtrafficking,murderandterrorism. country informationYouareaprosperouscountryinSouthEastAsiawithapopulationof27.5million. Your position in the debateTheMalaysiangovernmentisstronglyinfavourofthedeathpenalty.Indeed,peopleareconstantlyexhortingthatitsuseshouldbeextended,sayingthatitistheappropriatepunishmentforevenmorecrimes.Arguethatpotentialcriminalswillthinktwicebeforebreakingthelawforfearoflosingtheirlife.Thetakingofacriminal’slifeallowssociety

toshowthatcertaincrimeswillnotbetolerated.Moreover,onceaconvictedcriminalisexecuted,youdon’thavetoworryaboutthemescapingorrepeatingtheircrime.Youmightpointoutitcostsmoremoneytokeepmurderersinprisonservingalifesentencethanitdoestoexecutethem.

MalaysiansaremostlyMuslims.Islamisareligioninwhichlifeissacred.However,IslamiclawallowsexecutionforintentionalmurderandFasadfil-ardh(spreadingmischiefintheland).



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESMExIcOMExIcO

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Mexicoabolishedthedeathpenaltyin2005,andhaslongbeenapowerfulvoiceininternationalforumscallingfortheabolitionofcapitalpunishment.Thelastexecutionwascarriedoutin1961. country informationMexicoisinCentralAmericaandhasapopulationof 109.6million. Your position in the debateAwaveofcrimeanddrug-relatedviolencehasreignitedthedebateonthedeathpenaltyinyourcountry.In2009,hugepostersinMexicoCitycarryingtheGreenPartylogodemandeditsreturn.Thepostersloganread:‘Becausewecareaboutyourlife–thedeathpenaltyformurderersandkidnappers’.Howeveritisunlikely,ifnotimpossible,thatitwillbereinstated.Thegovernment,churchandhumanrightsgroupsallstronglyopposeit.

Arguethatthedeathpenaltyisdiscriminatory,ieitisusedagainstthepoorpeopleandmembersofracial,ethnicandreligiousminoritycommunities.CapitalpunishmentintheUSA(andinmanyothercountries)means‘thosewhoain’tgotthecapitalgetthepunishment’.StatisticsshowthatprisonersondeathrowandthosewhogetexecutedacrosstheworldfromtheUSAtoMalaysiatendtobethepoor,thementallyillandmembersofethnicminorities.Theprisonerswhoareexecutedarenotnecessarilythosewhocommittedtheworstcrimes,butoftenthosewhoweretoopoortohireskilledlawyerstodefendthem.




AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESNEPALNEPAL

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Nepalreintroducedthedeathpenaltyinthe1980sandthenabolisheditforordinarycrimes(peacetimeoffences)in1990andforallcrimesin1997. country informationNepalisamountainouscountryinAsiawithapopulationof29.3millionpeople. Your position in the debateMostNepalipeopleareHindusandthereisalsoalargeBuddhistminority.YoumightrefertotheimportantBuddhistandHinduconceptofahimsa–non-violenceandrespectforlife.Thisimportantteachinggivesyoureasontobecompletelyagainsttheuseofthedeathpenaltyin allcases.

Nepalisemergingfromadecadeofarmedconflictandpoliticalviolence.Inyourspeechyoumightmakethepointthatthedeathpenaltysimplydoesn’tworkagainstterrorism.Terroristsarewillingtodiefortheirideas.

Executingconvictedterroristswouldonlymakethingsworse.Executionsimplyturnstheterroristintothemartyr.




AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESPOLANdPOLANd

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. PolandwasaCommunistcountryformanyyearsuntil1989.Undercommunismanaverageof10peopleweresentencedtodeatheachyearbetween1956and1988,mostlyformurder.Butamoratorium(freeze)onexecutionsbeganin1989andcapitalpunishmentwasabolishedforallcrimesin1997.AnewerabeganwhenPolandjoined theEuropeanUnionin2004. country informationPolandisacountryinEasternEuropewithapopulationof38.1millionpeople. Your position in the debatePolandhassignedProtocol6oftheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights,whichrestrictstheapplicationofthedeathpenaltytotimesofwar.Polandhassigned,butnotyetratified(confirmeditwillabideby),Protocol13oftheConvention,whichcallsforthetotalabolitionofthedeathpenalty.

ThelatePresidentKaczynskisaidthatabolishingthedeathpenaltygivescriminalsadvantagesovervictims,clashingwiththeEuropeanUnionovertheissue.However,youremainanopponentofcapitalpunishment.Arguethatexecutiondoesnotworkasadeterrenttocrime(iethefearofbeingcaughtandexecuteddoesnotstopmurderersfrommurderingpeople).

Ninety-fivepercentofPolishpeopleareCatholics.Youcouldarguethatstateexecutionsjustcontinuethecycleofviolence,andfailtopromoteJesus’teachingofagape(unconditionallove).Youcouldalsoarguethattheideaofkillingsomeonebecausetheykilledsomeoneinordertoshowthatkillingpeopleiswrongmakesnosenseatall.




AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESSINgAPORESINgAPORE

Your country is:Retentionist. CapitalpunishmentisbyhanginginSingapore.Informationaboutdeathsentencesandexecutionsisverylimited.Atleastonepersonwasexecutedin2009andatleastsixwereknowntohavebeensentencedtodeath.Theactualnumberofexecutionsanddeathsentencesisbelievedtobemuchhigher. country informationSingaporeisasmallislandstateinSouthEastAsiawithapopulationof4.7millionpeople. Your position in the debateYoumightarguethatSingaporeisoneofthesafestplacesintheworldthankstothedeathpenalty.Thegovernmentstatesthatitisonlyusedinthemostseriousofcrimes,sendingastrongmessagetowould-beoffenders.ItreallyannoysyouthatWesterncountriestrytotellthepeopleofAsiawhattodoandattempttointerfereinyourinternalaffairs.Eachcountryhastherighttodecideonitsownjudicialsystem,takingintoaccountitsowncircumstances.

NearlyhalfofSingapore’speopleareBuddhists.YoucouldpointoutthattheBuddhist‘Bodhicaryavatara’authorisesviolenceifitisnecessarytopreventsuffering(ieifitactsasadeterrent,puttingotherpeopleoffcommittingseriouscrimes).Youcouldsaythatthedeathpenaltyisneededtostampoutthecrimeofdrugpeddlingthatruinsthousandsofpeople’slives.

JointheMalaysiancaucus.SeeifyoucanpersuadeotherAsiannationslikeIndiatojoinyou.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESSOuTh AFRIcASOuTh AFRIcA

Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. SouthAfricausedtobeoneoftheworld’sleadingexecutingnationsbeforeNelsonMandelabecamePresidentin1994andSouthAfricaabolishedthedeathpenaltyforallcrimesin1997. country informationSouthAfricahasapopulationof50.1millionpeople. Your position in the debateWithincreasingcrimerates,supporthasgrownforreinstatingcapitalpunishment.In2008,JacobZuma,nowthePresidentofSouthAfrica,saidhewouldre-openthedebateoncapitalpunishment.However,hecameunderfirefromhumanrightsorganisationsandthedebatehasnotbeenreopened.

SouthAfricaisastatepartytotheSecondOptionalProtocoltotheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,whichaimstoabolishthedeathpenaltyglobally;re-introducingthedeathpenaltywouldgreatlydamage

itsinternationalreputation.SaythatSouthAfrica’sbrutalapartheidhistoryshowsthattooofteninnocentpeoplecanbeexecutedbythestate.

EightypercentofSouthAfricansareChristians–mostlyProtestants.YoumightquoteArchbishopDesmondTutuwhosaid:‘ToaChristianwhosebeliefsystemisrootedinforgiveness,thedeathpenaltyisunacceptable...Retribution,resentmentandrevengeleaveuswithaworldsoakedinthebloodoffartoomanyofourbrothersandsisters.Thedeathpenaltyispartofthatprocess.’

Youmightarguethatexecutionsbrutalisethoseinvolvedintheprocessandthesocietythatcarriesthemout.Itisanirrevocablepunishment,resultinginevitablyintheexecutionofpeopleinnocentofanycrime.

JointheItaliancaucus.SeeifyoucanpersuadetheMalawianambassadortojoinyou.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESSudANSudAN

Your country is:Retentionist. SudancarriesoutthehighestnumberofexecutionsinAfrica.BetweenJuly2008andJune2009,103peopleweresentencedtodeathbyspecialcounter-terrorismcourts.Inaddition,atleastsixpeopleweresentencedtodeathbyordinarycourtsandninewereexecuted.Capitalpunishmentisbyhanging,shootingorstoningtodeath. country informationSudanisinthenortheastofAfricaandhasapopulation of42.2million. Your position in the debateSudan’speoplearemainlyMuslim,about10percentareChristianandtherestaremostlyanimistintheirbeliefs(meaningtheyhaveaprofoundrespectforlife).YoumightpointoutthatmostSudanesestronglysupporttheargumentsintheHolyQur’aninfavourofexecutions.

Arguethatinyourcountryexecutionsareneededtostopthecrimewaveandterrorism.Societymustprotect

individuals,evenifthismeansonemustdietoprotectothers.Itistheproperpunishmentforsuchcrimesasmurder,cursingGod,smuggling,drugtrafficking,adultery,waragainstthestate,stealingcamelsandrape.

JointheMalaysiancaucus.TrytoworkalongsidetheChinese,AmericansandCubanstodefeatthemotion.SeeifyoucanpersuadeotherMuslimcountriestojoinyou.



AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESuSAuSA

Your country is:Retentionist. IntheUSA,statesarefreetodecideontheuseofthedeathpenalty:35of50usethedeathpenaltyand15donot.Fifty-twopeoplewereexecutedduring2009(thehighesttotalforthreeyears)bringingto1,188thetotalnumberofprisonersexecutedsincetheUSSupremeCourtliftedamoratoriumonthedeathpenaltyin1976andallowedexecutionstoresumeinJanuary1977.AminorityofUSstatescontinuetoaccountforthemajorityofexecutions:Texasexecuted24peopleduring2009.Thatsameyear,NewMexicobecamethe15thstatetooutlawthedeathpenalty. country informationTheUSAinNorthAmericahasapopulationof 314.7million. Your position in the debateDespitetheUSAshowingsomesignsofturningagainstthedeathpenalty,morestatesareinsupportofthepracticethannot.

ManyAmericansarechurch-goingChristianpeople,stronglyinfavourofthedeathpenaltyformurder.YoumightquotetheargumentsintheBibleinfavourofexecutions:Thosewhokillmustbekilled.

‘Whoevershedsmen’sblood,bymanhisbloodshallbeshed.’(Genesis9:6).

Arguethatthealternative,‘lifeimprisonment’,doesnotalwaysmeanlifeandthecriminalisreleasedandfreetooffendagain.

JoinMalaysiainthecaucus.Sidewithanyonewhosupportsthedeathpenalty,evenifitmeanscollaboratingwithChina,CubaandSudan–countriesyoudon’tnormallyseeeyetoeyewith.Seewhatpressureyoucanputontheundecidedambassadorstogetthemto supportyou.


LESSON 2 THE ITALIAN MOTION

Motion for debate in the 65th Session of the uN general Assembly at the uN building in New York

‘ThissessionoftheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblycallsonallmemberstatesthathavenotyetabolishedthedeathpenaltytorestrictthenumberofdeathsentences,toavoidusingexecutionswhereverpossibleandtoconsiderestablishingamoratorium(suspension)onallexecutions,withaview totheircompleteabolition.’

TobemovedbyItalyonbehalfoftheEuropeanUnionandover80otherUNmemberstates.










✃

✃

ThE ITALIAN MOTION

ThE ITALIAN MOTION ThE ITALIAN MOTION

ThE ITALIAN MOTION


LESSON 2 FORANDAGAINSTTHEDEATHPENALTY

✃

ARguMENTS PEOPLE uSE FOR ThE dEATh PENALTY

ARguMENTS PEOPLE uSE AgAINST ThE dEATh PENALTY

1 Capitalpunishmentistherightpunishmentforthosewhotakeawaylife–murderers,terroristsanddrugpeddlers.Thosewhohavetakenalifeshouldbekilled–alifefor alife.

2 Capitalpunishmentisadeterrent.Thefearofbeingexecutedmustsurelyputoffthecriminalsfromcommittingmurderiftheyknowthey’llfacethedeathpenaltyifcaught.

3 Onethingiscertain:noexecutedpersonwilleverkillagain.

4 Publicopinionwantsexecutions.

5 Thefamiliesofthosekilledneedjusticeandretribution(revenge).

6 Itwouldsurelycostalotmoremoneytokeepmurderersinprisonservingalifesentencethanitwouldtoexecutethem.

7 Itismorehumanetoputsomeonetodeaththantokeepthemlockedupforyears.

1 ExecutionisaviolationoftherighttolifeasproclaimedintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights.

2 Itisacruel,inhumananddegradingpunishment,whetherbythehangman’srope,thefiringsquad,poisongas,lethalinjection,thesword,stoningortheelectricchair.

3 Capitalpunishmentdoesnotdetercrime.AllstudiesbytheUNandothersshowthedeathpenaltydoesnotpreventcrimeanymoreeffectivelythanotherpunishments.

4 Courtscanmakemistakes.Innocentpeoplearebeingexecuted.Astudyin1987showedthat350innocentpeoplehadbeencondemnedtodeathintheUSAsince1900and23ofthemwereexecuted.

5Thestatecarryingoutthedeathpenaltymakesusallintokillers.Ifwesupportthedeathpenaltyformurder,weendupsupportingmurder,whichmakesusguiltyofhypocrisy.

6 Thedeathpenaltyisdiscriminatoryandisoftenuseddisproportionatelyagainstpeoplefrompoorbackgroundsorofparticularraces,orthosewithmentalhealthproblems.

7 Ifsomeoneisputtodeath,theyhavenochancetochangetheirlifeortocontributepositivelytosociety.


LESSON 2 CHAIR’SBRIEFINGNOTES

The following are tips and suggestions for the teacher who is chairing the debate.

Explaintostudentsthattheinformationontheirbriefingcardsisbasedonfact,butthatsomeartisticlicencehasbeenusedtoencourageandenabledebate.AskstudentstotrytokeepthecontentsoftheirAmbassadorbriefingnotesasecret.Theyshouldcarrythesebriefingsaroundwiththemduringthecaucussotheycanbeidentifiedandhavetheirnationalflagsondisplayduringthedebate.

RemindanyonewhoisdefinitelyFORordefinitelyAGAINSTtheMotionthattheirsidewillonlywiniftheycanpersuadeenoughoftheUNDECIDEDStovotewiththem,whichtheyshoulddoduringthecaucus.

AllspeakersshouldalwaysaddresstheirremarkstotheChair.

Encourageeveryoneintheclasstosayatleastonethinginthedebate.

IfpossiblespeakersshouldusetheirownwordsratherthanreaddirectlyfromtheirAmbassadorbriefingnotes.

Keepallthespeechesdowntonomorethanaminuteorsoinlength.

Everyonegetsjustonechancetospeak,apartfromtheItalianambassador,whoi)proposestheirmotionandii)sumsupattheend.

Varythespeakersinthedebate,callingonanAmbassadorlikelytospeakFORthemotion,thenonewhoislikelytospeakAGAINSTandthenperhapsoneoftheUNDECIDED.

EncouragestudentstoputthemselvesintotheshoesoftheirAmbassadorforthisexercise,makingtheirargumentsasconvincingastheycanandpresentingtheirideaswithsome

passion(whethertheypersonallyagreewiththispositionornot).

Askallspeakerstoinclude:•theargumentssuggestedintheir

Ambassadorbriefingnotes;•anarticlefromtheUniversalDeclarationof

HumanRights(seesummaryversion);•arelevantpointfromtheFORorAGAINST

argumentsworksheet.

Whileconductingtheeventyoumayfinditusefultocomeinandoutofroletocommentonargumentsbeingputforwardandlinesandtacticsbeingusedduringthedebate.

bAckgROuNd TO ThIS MOdEL uN dEbATE

TheUNGeneralAssemblyin2007and2008calledforaglobalmoratoriumonthedeathpenaltyasafirststeptototalabolition.In2007theresolutionwasadoptedby104UNmemberstatesinfavour,54againstand29abstentions.In2008,supporthadincreased:106statesvotedinfavour,46againstand34abstained.AmnestyInternationalhopesandbelievesthattheUNGeneralAssemblyresolutions–thefirstoftheirkind–willcontinuetobeamajorinfluenceinpersuadingcountriestoabandontheiruseofcapitalpunishment.Theresolutionisnotlegallybindingbutitismorallypersuasive.AsimilarresolutionwillbeconsideredbytheThirdCommitteeoftheUNGeneralAssemblyinOctober2010.Thislessonislooselybasedonthisplanneddebate.

Seefurtherinformationonpage17ofthebooklet.


LESSON 2 GLOSSARY

AbOLISh Toputanendtosomething.

AbOLITION Beingabolished.

AbOLITIONIST Apersonwhofavourstheabolitionofalawthattheybelievetobeharmfultosociety.

AbSTAIN Torefrainfromcastingone’svote.

AMbASSAdOR Thehighestrankingdiplomatwhorepresentstheircountry.UNAmbassadorsserveastheofficialrepresentativeoftheircountryinUNdebates.

cAucuS Apreliminarymeetingordiscussion.

cAPITAL PuNIShMENT Thedeathpenalty;punishmentbydeathforcrime.

dETERRENT Somethingthatdeters(putspeopleoff)doingsomething.

MORATORIuM Thesuspensionofanactivity(ega‘moratoriumonthedeathpenalty’isthesuspensionoftheuseofthedeathpenalty).

MOTION Aproposalformallymadetoadeliberativeassembly/decisionmakingbody.

PREMEdITATEd Donedeliberately;planned.

uNITEd NATIONS Anorganisationthatwasfoundedin1945,withtheaimtofacilitateworldwidecooperationininternationallaw,internationalsecurity,economicdevelopment,socialprogressandhumanrightsissues.Therearecurrently192memberstates(countries)includingnearlyeveryrecognisedindependentstateintheworld.

uNIvERSAL dEcLARATION OF huMAN RIghTS AstatementadoptedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheUNin1948.Thedeclarationaimstocontributeto‘freedom,justiceandpeaceintheworld’tobeachievedbyrecognitionofandrespectforhumanrights.Theserightsaredefinedin30articles,whichincluderightssuchas‘therighttolife’and‘therighttofreedomfromtorture’.


LESSON 2 UNFLAGuN FLAg


LESSON 2 UNIVERSALDECLARATIONOFHUMAN RIGHTSSUMMARYVERSION

1 Weareallbornfreeandequal.Weallhaveourownthoughtsandideas.Weshouldallbetreatedinthesameway.

2 Theserightsbelongtoeverybody,whateverourdifferences.

3 Weallhavetherighttolife,andtoliveinfreedomandsafety.

4 Nobodyhasanyrighttomakeusaslave.Wecannotmakeanyoneelseourslave.

5 Nobodyhasanyrighttohurtortortureusortreatuscruelly.

6 Everyonehastherighttobeprotectedbythelaw.

7 Thelawisthesameforeveryone.Itmusttreatusallfairly.

8 Wecanallaskforthelawtohelpuswhenwearenottreatedfairly.

9 Nobodyhastherighttoputusinprisonwithoutagoodreason,tokeepusthereortosendusawayfromourcountry.

10 Ifweareputontrial,thisshouldbeinpublic.Thepeoplewhotryusshouldnotletanyonetellthemwhattodo.

11 Nobodyshouldbeblamedfordoingsomethinguntilithasbeenproved.Whenpeoplesaywedidabadthing wehavetherighttoshowitisnottrue.

12 Nobodyshouldtrytoharmourgoodname.Nobodyhastherighttocomeintoourhome,openourletters,orbotherus,orourfamily,withoutagoodreason.

13 Weallhavetherighttogowherewewanttoinourowncountryandtotravelabroadaswewish.

14 Ifwearefrightenedofbeingbadlytreatedinourowncountry,weallhavetherighttorunawaytoanothercountrytobesafe.

15 Weallhavetherighttobelongtoacountry.

16 Everygrownuphastherighttomarryandhaveafamilyiftheywantto.Menandwomenhavethesamerightswhentheyaremarried,andwhentheyareseparated.

17 Everyonehastherighttoownthingsorsharethem.Nobodyshouldtakeourthingsfromuswithoutagoodreason.

18 Weallhavetherighttobelieveinwhatwewanttobelieve,tohaveareligion,ortochangeitifwewish.

19 Weallhavetherighttomakeupourownminds,tothinkwhatwelike,tosaywhatwethink,andtoshareourideaswithotherpeople.

20 Weallhavetherighttomeetourfriendsandtoworktogetherinpeacetodefendourrights.Nobodycanmakeusjoinagroupifwedon’twantto.

21 Weallhavetherighttotakepartinthegovernmentofourcountry.Everygrownupshouldbeallowedtovotetochoosetheirownleaders.

22 Weallhavetherighttoahome,enoughmoneytoliveonandmedicalhelpifweareill.Music,art,craftandsportareforeveryonetoenjoy.

23 Everygrownuphastherighttoajob,toafairwagefortheirwork,andtojoinatradeunion.

24 Weallhavetherighttorestfromworkandrelax.

25 Weallhavetherighttoenoughfood,clothing,housingandhealthcare.Mothersandchildrenandpeoplewhoareold,unemployedordisabledhavetherighttobecaredfor.

26 Weallhavetherighttoeducation,andtofinishprimaryschool,whichshouldbefree.Weshouldbeablelearnacareer,ortomakeuseofallourskills.

27 Weallhavetherighttoourownwayoflife,andtoenjoythegoodthingsthatscienceandlearningbring.

28 Theremustbeproperordersowecanallenjoyrightsandfreedomsinourowncountryandallovertheworld.

29 Wehaveadutytootherpeople,andweshouldprotecttheirrightsandfreedoms.

30 Nobodycantakeawaytheserightsandfreedomsfromus.

ThisisasimplifiedversionoftheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsfromAmnestyInternationalUK. ForthefullversionoftheDeclarationsee www.un.org/en/documents/index.shtml

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