sole criterion in determining the urgency and priorities to be accorded in
taking appropriate remedial action; and, therefore, the consideration of any
cases of torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
within the framework of any other international body or mechanism may not
be invoked as a reason for refraining from consideration and appropriate
action in accordance with the agreed measures and procedures for the
effective implementation of the commitments relating to the human dimension
of the CSCE.
(17)
The participating States
(17.1)
— recall the commitment undertaken in the Vienna
Concluding Document to keep the question of capital punishment under
consideration and to co-operate within relevant international organizations;
(17.2)
— recall, in this context, the adoption by the General Assembly
of the United Nations, on 15 December 1989, of the Second Optional Protocol
to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the
abolition of the death penalty;
(17.3)
— note the restrictions and safeguards regarding the use of the
death penalty which have been adopted by the international community, in
particular article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights;
(17.4)
— note the provisions of the Sixth Protocol to the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,
concerning the abolition of the death penalty;
(17.5)
— note recent measures taken by a number of participating
States towards the abolition of capital punishment;
(17.6)
— note the activities of several
organizations on the question of the death penalty;
non-governmental
(17.7)
— will exchange information within the framework of the
Conference on the Human Dimension on the question of the abolition of the
death penalty and keep that question under consideration;
(17.8)
— will make available to the public information regarding the
use of the death penalty.
(18)
The participating States
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