The Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam and all the diplomatic missions of EU Member States accredited to Vietnam issue the following statement together with the diplomatic missions of Canada, Norway and the UK:

The EU and the diplomatic missions of Canada, Norway and the UK call on the Vietnamese authorities to halt the execution of Mr Le Van Manh (decision No. 02/2015/QD-CA).

We strongly oppose the use of capital punishment at all times and in all circumstances, which is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and can never be justified, and advocate for Vietnam to adopt a moratorium on all executions.

Today, more than two thirds of the countries of the world have become abolitionist in law or practice, which confirms a global trend in favour of the abolition of the death penalty. No evidence exists to show that the death penalty serves as a more efficient deterrent to crime than imprisonment. Moreover, rehabilitation as an objective of modern criminal law is rendered impossible by the application of capital punishment. Furthermore, any errors - inevitable in any legal system - are irreversible.

We will continue to actively work to further the universal trend towards the eradication of the death penalty and stand ready to support Vietnam on a path towards abolition.