That calls for visionary and far-sighted leaders, statesmen and stateswomen who are not deterred from making the right decisions.

I trust that we shall all be united in this battle, which is supported by Nobel laureates, statesmen and stateswomen, and free men and women throughout the world, and that the “growing trend in international law and national practice toward a phasing out of the death penalty” — to quote Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (Press release SG/SM/10839) — will be officially sanctioned by this General Assembly's adoption of the draft resolution we are about to submit together with many countries from every regional group and from the European Union.