Joint Communique, New York, 24th September 2018
We, the members of the Global Alliance to end trade in goods used for capital punishment and
torture, reiterate our firm commitment to the respect for the human rights of all human beings and
reaffirm the Political Declaration adopted by members of the Alliance on 18th September 2017. We
welcome the new States that have joined the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade at its first Ministerial
Meeting in New York on 24 September 2018 and we encourage other countries to join.
We take stock of the work carried out since the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade was launched on 18
September 2017, particularly as regards its first technical meeting of experts held in Brussels on 29
June 2018. At that meeting, a global network of Focal Points for sharing information and best
practice was set up. The network of Focal Points will facilitate providing technical assistance to other
members for the design and implementation of relevant legislation when requested.
We take note and encourage relevant initiatives undertaken at the international, regional and
subregional levels between States, in particular the Resolution adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly on 19 December 20171, and the Council of Europe2 and of the role played by nongovernmental organizations and civil society, to enhance cooperation, improve information exchange
and transparency in the field of trade of goods used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
We recognize that the absence of common international standards on the import, export and
transfer of goods used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment is a contributory factor to facilitate the availability of these goods and
enable such practices. We acknowledge the growing support across all regions for concluding an
international instrument negotiated on a non-discriminatory, transparent and multilateral basis, to
establish common international standards for the import, export and transfer of goods used for
capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
We commit to advancing a draft resolution, to be adopted by the United Nations General Assembly
during its seventy-third session, in order to:
1
Request the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the feasibility and
possible scope of a range of options, including a legally binding instrument, to establish
common international standards for the import, export and transfer of goods used for capital
punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and to
submit a report on the subject to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session.
72th Session, agenda item 72(a), 72/163. §19 Calls upon all States to take appropriate effective legislative,
administrative, judicial and other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export, import and
use of equipment that has no practical use other than for the purpose of torture or other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment.
2
th
89 meeting of the Steering Committee for Human Rights and Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation
2123 (2018) of June 2018.