Ts.Elbegdorj greets guests of World Congress Against Death Penalty

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj has sent greetings to the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, which was held on June 21-23. He extended his heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the distinguished guests. “You are the tireless guardians of the sanctity and dignity of human life”, he added. “I know every one of you can tell your personal stories, when it comes to fight against death penalty. Here is my story. On the day I swore in as the President of Mongolia on June 18th 2009, two draft decrees were tabled on my desk. One was on death penalty for a criminal. Other was to pardon him. I decided to choose life. I chose a clean, just and bloodless future for my people. No death penalty has been carried out since that day in Mongolia. On January 1, 2010, I declared a moratorium on capital punishment in my country. Two years later, on January 5, 2012, our Parliament ratified the UN’s International Covenant aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. And here comes even the greater news. My country will fully abolish the death penalty by our new criminal code which will come into effect on September 1, 2016” “Every government claims that it exists to serve its citizens. That means that no government has a right to take the life of its people. We can punish a heinous criminal, but we cannot punish life. Capital punishment is ineffective and barbaric. Death penalty is not acceptable under any circumstances. I believe one day our loving human family will become free of the death penalty. I know, it is not easy to exercise leadership on this tough issue. Nevertheless, as a democratic anchor in the east, Mongolia shall spare no efforts to help our like-minded friends to abolish the capital punishment. You are the leaders in this cause – you deserve the praise, and you deserve the prize! The world without the death penalty. It is inspiring. Let’s work together to near that day”, said the President and concluded his speech with thanks.