U.N. resolution condemns death penalty

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The U.N. General Assembly approved a non-binding resolution calling for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

In a plenary vote Tuesday, 104 countries voted in favor of the resolution, 54 voted against and 29 abstained, the U.N. News Center reported.

For countries that still execute prisoners, the resolution encourages they meet internationally agreed minimum standards on the safeguards for those facing execution and to provide the U.N. secretary-general with information about their use of capital punishment and observation of safeguards.

"I am particularly encouraged by the support expressed for this initiative from many diverse regions of the world," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement. "This is further evidence of a trend toward ultimately abolishing the death penalty."

Of U.N. members, 133 countries have abolished capital punishment, the report said.