On November 15, 2007, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly voted 99-52 in favor of a non-binding worldwide moratorium on the death penalty. Opponents of the resolution argued that it would infringe on nations' sovereignty, and presented a list of 14 last-minute amendments emphasizing nations' right to set criminal punishments. The amendments were all ultimately rejected. The US also voted against the resolution. The resolution states that capital punishment "undermines human dignity," that "there is no conclusive evidence of the death penalty's deterrent value" and that "any miscarriage or failure of justice in [its] implementation is irreversible and irreparable."

Learn more about UN action against the death penalty from the JURIST news archive.

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