REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. TSEND MUNKH-ORGIL,
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF MONGOLIA, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE TO END TRADE IN GOODS USED FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND TORTURE
New York, 18 September 2017
Your Excellency Mr. Jorge Faurie, Foreign Minister of Argentina,
Your Excellency Ms. Cecilia Malmstrom, European Commissioner for Trade,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to today’s launch of the Global Alliance to Stop the Trade in Goods used for Capital Punishment and Torture.
The Alliance for Torture-Free Trade is a joint initiative by Argentina, EU and Mongolia. It is gratifying to note that so far over 50 countries across the world have committed themselves to the aim of the Alliance.
Over the last few decades, more and more countries have committed themselves to eradicating the death penalty, torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment through the development of the relevant UN conventions and protocols. Yet, goods used for pain and death are still produced and sold, finding their way to buyers around the globe. This trade must stop.
Today, we gathered here as group of countries aimed at creating a new global framework - Alliance for Torture-Free Trade. By signing a joint political declaration, we are expressing our readiness to implement measures to restrict the export of goods intended for torture and execution as well as creating a cross border information exchange platform for customs authorities to better monitor trade flows of such products.
Rooting out torture and death penalty will surely require more broad and sustained efforts beyond the area of trade. However, by focusing first on banning the trade of goods used for pain and death, we are bringing likeminded countries together to effect the real change.
Mongolia is firmly committed to abolishing death penalty, torture, and other inhuman and degrading treatment of a human being. My country introduced a de-facto moratorium on death penalty in 2010 and de-jure abolished it by adopting a revised Criminal Code in 2015. Furthermore, we ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 2012 and the International Convention against Torture in 2002 and its Optional Protocol in 2015.
For my country, Mongolia, it was an honor to co-facilitate last year the negotiations for the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on the Moratorium on the use of the death penalty together with Argentina.
Once again, Mongolia is pleased to be part of the core group of the Global Alliance to end trade in goods used for capital punishment and torture and support and encourage countries to adopt legislation to control trade in these products and to exchange best practices and information.
We are confident that the Alliance will also serve as a basis for broader cooperation at the United Nations towards ending torture and death penalty in the coming years.
I thank you for your attention.