The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area Annex 3 Relevant Recommendations Made at the 2009 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting During the 2009 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, held in Warsaw from 28 September to 8 October 2009, views were also exchanged on the question of the abolition of the death penalty.92 Working Session 4: Rule of law II addressed the issues of capital punishment, the prevention of torture and the protection of human rights in fighting terrorism. The majority of interventions focused on the death penalty and the prevention of torture. Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, the Director of ODIHR, highlighted the steady decrease in the use of capital punishment, with Uzbekistan being the 50th participating State to abolish it, in 2008. Many speakers urged for the abolition of capital punishment and for an immediate moratorium on its use. The recent adoption of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the death penalty and towards its abolition was generally welcomed. Some speakers mentioned the need of awareness-raising exercises. It was also noted that capital punishment does not prevent crime and that it does not make our societies any safer. Moreover, the imposition of capital punishment generates many problems and risks, including that of judicial errors that lead to the execution of innocent people. The following recommendations were made: • The two OSCE participating States where executions still take place should abolish capital punishment and, in the meantime, adopt a moratorium on capital punishment. • All participating States that still maintain the possibility to apply capital punishment should abolish it for all crimes. • There should be a moratorium on the death penalty and an affirmation of the right to life. • National parliaments should form coalitions against the death penalty. 92  “Human Dimension Implementation Meeting Consolidated Summary”, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, 28 September- 08 October 2009. 35