The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area if it has not already done so.38 I commend the OSCE participating States that have abolished the death penalty and that are engaged in the global efforts to eliminate this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment once and for all. The trend within the OSCE region to consider capital punishment in the light of the absolute prohibition of torture represents a strong development at the international level, and I am confident that, ultimately, the death penalty will eventually be accepted for what it is: a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, which is prohibited under international human rights law. 38  Special Rapporteur, op. cit., note 6, para. 74. 14