EUROPE/ITALY - International Conference ‘Africa for Life. Africa without death penalty’ organised by S. Egidio Community is a success says Italian president

Tuesday, 29 November 2005

Rome (Fides Service) - The Liberian minister of justice Kabineh Ja’neh has asked the European Union and S. Egidio Community to help “the new Liberia to undertake constitutional reforms to introduce natural respect for life as an essential value and make the death penalty once and for all a thing of the past”. Liberia is the first African country to abolish the death penalty in 2005.
The new minister of justice was speaking at a meeting in Rome “Africa for life. Africa without death penalty” organised by the S. Egidio Community and attended by 11 African ministers of justice.
Mr Ja’neh mentioned the part played by S. Egidio to promote dialogue, and put an end to violence and launch process of democracy in Liberia.
In a message to the Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, S. Egidio founder professor Riccardi said “the presence today of many African ministers of justice and other government members at the meeting organised by S. Egidio Community Africa for life. Africa without death penalty, is a testimonial of this continent’s desire to play its part … Africa - he added - despite many difficulties is developing a more deeply rooted awareness of human rights and the functions of law.”
President Ciampi for his part, thanking the founder of S. Egidio Community and addressing the delegation of African justice ministers received at the Presidential Palace on the occasion of the colloquium ‘Africa For Life. Africa without death penalty’ said “the campaign to abolish the death penalty is a fundamental battle for common progress.”
“I am happy - the President added - that commitment to abolish capital punishment meets growing consensus in African countries where only a few states still carry out executions. This is an encouraging signal and a demonstration of Africa’s progress on the path to protecting human dignity, and promoting democracy and a rule of law. This progress encourages more developed countries, international institutions and NGOs working for development, to offer more support to help African peoples accelerate their economic growth and give new impulse to the fight against hunger and poverty.” (AP) (29/11/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:36 Parole:425)


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