"I want to make a plea to all states that continue this barbaric practice: please stop the executions," Guterres said at an event marking the 15th World Day Against the Death Penalty. "Just last month, two African states - The Gambia and Madagascar - took major steps towards irreversible abolition of the death penalty," he said. Guterres also called for transparency from states where the death penalty is legal, asking them to let lawyers do their job. "Others classify information on the death penalty as a state secret, making its release an act of treason." This lack of transparency "shows a lack of respect for the human rights of those sentenced to death and to their families."

Source: The Nation Bangkok October 10, 2017 18:33 UTC