Capital punishment neither useful nor necessary, says Italy's minister

Rome  :  There can be no justification for the death penalty, which is "neither useful nor necessary" Italy's foreign minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi said on Wednesday, recalling that Italy has always been at the forefront of a global campaign to abolish capital punishment.

"The death penalty is neither useful nor necessary," Moavero told the international conference 'For a World Without the Death Penalty' taking place at the Italian lower house of parliament.

"Italy was one of the first countries to abolish capital punishment and has a clear position: we oppose the death penalty and want it removed from nations' statute books," he said.

"We favour a moratorium on its application wherever it exists."