The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area–Background Paper 2018 Convinced that a moratorium on the use of the death penalty contributes to respect for human dignity and to the enhancement and progressive development of human rights, and considering that there is no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value of the death penalty, Noting ongoing local and national debates and regional initiatives on the death penalty, as well as the readiness of an increasing number of Member States to make available to the public information on the use of the death penalty, Noting also the technical cooperation among Member States in relation to moratoriums on the death penalty, 1. Expresses its deep concern about the continued application of the death penalty; 2. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 65/2063 and the recommendations contained therein; 3. Also welcomes the steps taken by some Member States to reduce the number of offences for which the death penalty may be imposed and the decisions made by an increasing number of States, at all levels of government, to apply a moratorium on executions, followed in many cases by the abolition of the death penalty; 4. Calls upon all States: (a) To respect international standards that provide safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, in particular the minimum standards, as set out in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/50 of 25 May 1984, as well as to provide the Secretary-General with information in this regard; (b) To make available relevant information with regard to their use of the death penalty, inter alia, the number of persons sentenced to death, the number of persons on death row and the number of executions carried out, which can contribute to possible informed and transparent national and international debates, including on the obligations of States pertaining to the use of the death penalty; (c) To progressively restrict the use of the death penalty and not to impose capital punishment for offences committed by persons below 18 years of age and on pregnant women; (d) To reduce the number of offences for which the death penalty may be imposed; 3  A/67/226 52