Disseminating information about the death penalty is the best way to get countries to abolish the practice, according to a senior UN official.

Ivan Šimonović, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, said some 170 countries worldwide have either abolished capital punishment or have never implemented it.

Mr Šimonović will moderate a panel discussion this Wednesday on the theme of moving away from the death penalty.

His office has also launched a new book entitled ‘Death Penalty and the Victims.’

Dianne Penn spoke to Mr Šimonović ahead of the event.

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