The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area Annex 7 Relevant Recommendations made at the 2011 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting During the 2011 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, held in Warsaw from 26 September to 7 October 2011 views were exchanged on the question of the abolition of the death penalty. Working Session 5: Rule of Law II addressed the issues of the abolition of capital punishment, prevention of torture and the protection of human rights in the fight against terrorism. The ODIHR Director noted that capital punishment was slowly but steadily disappearing, but that the trend had slowed down during the last year. Many speakers called for the abolition of the death penalty, which is still carried out in two participating States, and for a moratorium on its use. In addition to the recommendations listed below, participants expressed concerns on the discriminatory application of the death penalty and the alleged deterrent effect. The following recommendations were made: • To introduce a moratorium on the death penalty and, if a moratorium already exists, to abolish the death penalty and to convert all sentences into life-long imprisonment; • To encourage public debate on the abolition of death penalty if capital punishment still exists; • To provide adequate funding for the legal defense of persons who might be sentenced to death; • To ensure transparency regarding the use of the death penalty and to make information on it available to the public. 57