The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area 20. Calls on the Council and Commission to identify ways in which to improve the implementation and effectiveness of the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty during the current review of the EU’s human rights policy, in particular in view of the planned revision of the Guidelines in 2011; (…) Extract from European Parliament resolution of 1 February 2007 on the initiative in favour of a universal moratorium on the death penalty The European Parliament, … 1. Reiterates its long-standing position against the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances and expresses once more its conviction that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and to the progressive development of human rights; 2. Calls for a worldwide moratorium on executions to be established immediately and unconditionally with a view to the worldwide abolition of the death penalty, through a relevant resolution of the current UN General Assembly, whose actual implementation the UN Secretary-General should be able to monitor. ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES Extract from the American Convention on Human Rights Chapter II – Civil and Political Rights Article 4. Right to Life 1. Every person has the right to have his life respected. This right shall be protected by law and, in general, from the moment of conception. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life. 2. In countries that have not abolished the death penalty, it may be imposed only for the most serious crimes and pursuant to a final judgment rendered by a competent court and in accordance with a law establishing such punishment, enacted prior to the commission of the crime. The application of such punishment shall not be extended to crimes to which it does not presently apply. 37