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<title>GRAHAM WELCOMES WORLD DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>October 10, 2003 <em>(11:00 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 159</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>GRAHAM WELCOMES WORLD DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham welcomed today's first-ever observance of the World Day Against
the Death Penalty.</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">"Canada will continue to play a key international role in denouncing the use of capital punishment," said
Minister Graham. "Today we join other nations and organizations around the world in urging abolition of
the death penalty as a fundamental principle of justice and human rights. We continue to encourage other
countries to eliminate the death penalty, and call on those still using it to ensure that capital sentences are
carried out only in accordance with international human rights obligations."</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">The World Day Against the Death Penalty, sponsored by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty,
is aimed at strengthening international support for the universal abolition of the death penalty. The
Coalition was created in Rome in May 2002, to coordinate the efforts of member non-governmental
organizations, citizens and stakeholders in support of this cause. Numerous events are taking place
around the world today to draw attention to the issue.</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">In 1967, a bill was passed that placed a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in Canada. In 1976 it
was removed from the Canadian Criminal Code. Canada officially became an abolitionist state in 1998,
when Parliament removed the last reference to the death penalty as a sentencing option in Canadian law.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Isabelle Savard</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071206014512/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/"><font size="+1">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
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