A/HRC/42/25 blasphemy, adultery and consensual sexual relations between persons of the same sex, and called upon States to immediately repeal such laws. In this regard, delegates referred to the definition of “most serious crimes” in article 6 (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, general comment No. 36 of the Human Rights Committee and Human Rights Council resolution 36/17. 42. It was noted that the threat of the death penalty for consensual same-sex relations in some States, even where laws were not enforced, had a significant chilling effect, and often prevented the establishment and development of LGBTI organizations, the provision of services to LGBTI communities, as well as human rights advocacy. E. Importance of data 43. A number of delegates pointed out that data on crime rates showed that there was no evidence that the death penalty was a more effective deterrent than long prison sentences. It was noted that a fall in support for the death penalty was observed when the public was presented with evidence-based information correcting the misconception that the death penalty deterred crime. 44. Several delegates stressed that transparency in how the death penalty was applied was vital to detecting possible discrimination and to ensuring that due process safeguards and other human rights standards were upheld. They called for all States that retained the death penalty to publish full and accurate data on persons sentenced to death and executed, disaggregated by gender, age, nationality, ethnicity and other relevant characteristics. F. Importance of international cooperation and regional bodies 45. A number of delegates highlighted the important role of international cooperation and exchanges of experience towards abolition of the death penalty, including through initiatives such as the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade,10 World and Regional Congresses against the Death Penalty, and the World Coalition against the Death Penalty. 11 46. Several delegates welcomed the role of the Secretary-General and of the High Commissioner in calling for the universal abolition of the death penalty. Delegates drew the attention of the Council to the positive role played by regional bodies in the abolitionist movement, including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights and the European Union. Delegates also highlighted the commitment of the Council of Ministers of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries to the universal abolition of the death penalty. V. Conclusions 47. In its concluding remarks, the panel welcomed the broad recognition among States that ratifying international human rights instruments placed them on an irrevocable path towards abolition of the death penalty. The panel noted that several interventions focused on the incompatibility of the death penalty with the prohibition on torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and with human dignity, and referred participants to general comment No. 36 of the Human Rights Committee, which foresaw the possibility of future agreement among States that the death penalty was contrary to article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights under all circumstances. 48. The panel emphasized that the right to life was the cornerstone of all human rights and that human rights were universal values. Panellists noted comments from some States in support of the death penalty, citing the interests of victims of crime, 10 11 See www.torturefreetrade.org. See www.worldcoalition.org. 9