OTHER INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ON THE DEATH PENALTY national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities appear to be disproportionately subject to the death penalty, and condemning cases in which women are subjected to capital punishment on the basis of gender-discriminatory legislation, Deeply concerned that several countries impose the death penalty in disregard of the limitations set out in the Covenant and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 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, Concerned about the recent lifting of existing moratoria on executions in several countries, Noting the consideration of issues relating to the question of the death penalty by the Human Rights Committee, Recalling 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), 1. 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.4/2004/86), which concludes that the trend towards abolition of the death penalty continues and reports progress on the increase in the number of countries who have ratified or acceded to international instruments aiming at the abolition of the death penalty; 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; 57