The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area United Nations Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2003/67 on the question of the death penalty (2003) The Commission on Human Rights, […] Recalling its previous resolutions in which it expressed its conviction that abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and to the progressive development of human rights, […] Concerned that several countries, in imposing the death penalty, do not take into account the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, 1. Recalls the sixth quinquennial report of the Secretary-General on capital punishment and implementation of the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, submitted in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1995/57 of 28 July 1995 (E/2000/3), and welcomes the yearly supplement of the Secretary-General on changes in law and practice concerning the death penalty worldwide contained in his report (E/CN.4/2003/106), as requested in Commission resolution 2002/77; 2. Reaffirms resolution 2000/17 of 17 August 2000 of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on international law and the imposition of the death penalty on those aged under 18 at the time of the commission of the offence; 3. Calls upon all States parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that have not yet done so to consider acceding to or ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty; 4. Urges all States that still maintain the death penalty: (a) Not to impose it for crimes committed by persons below 18 years of age, and to exclude pregnant women from capital punishment; (b) Not to impose the death penalty for any but the most serious crimes and only pursuant to a final judgement rendered by an independent and impartial competent court, 72