Despite a marked trend towards abolition and restriction of the use of capital punishment in most countries, numbers and manner of death penalty application worldwide remain alarming. While 139 countries - more than 2/3 of the countries of the world - are abolitionist in law or practice, still at least 5,679 executions were carried out last year. Where capital punishment remains in force, there are serious problems with regard to the respect of international norms and standards. This makes abolitionist initiatives the more important. The planned death penalty resolution during 65th UN General Assembly this autumn is expected to manifest further progress in the global trend towards global abolition which is truly cross-regional. The abolition of the death penalty is one of the thematic priorities in the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), which is with over 30 projects supported so far the lead source of funding for abolitionist projects worldwide.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton said: "...there is no room for complacency - every execution is one too many." The EU considers the death penalty to be a cruel and inhuman punishment. The EU is actively supported by states from all regions of the world. The EU uses all available means - diplomatic channels and raising public awareness - in working towards the goal of abolishing the death penalty throughout the world.
