The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area–Background Paper 2017 20145 to convene biennial high-level panel discussions in order to further exchange views on the question of 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 67/1766 and the recommendations contained therein; 3. Also welcomes the steps taken by some States to reduce the number of offences for which the death penalty may be imposed, as well as steps taken to limit its application; 4. Further welcomes 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; 5. 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 5  See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/69/53), chap. V, sect. A. 6 A/69/288. 61