A/HRC/30/21 punishment under Islamic principles, in particular the possible deterrent effect of the punishment, the fact that it might bring about peace within society, and its corrective nature. F. Impact of the death penalty on other individuals 39. Some delegates discussed the issue of the wider impact of the death penalty on other individuals, and mentioned in particular, that the human rights of children of parents sentenced to death or executed should be considered. It was also reported that that issue had been paid increasing attention by the Human Rights Council. In particular, in its resolution 22/11, the Council had acknowledged the importance of the protection of human rights of children of parents sentenced to death or executed. It had also organized a panel on that issue (see A/HRC/25/33). In that regard, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights had stressed the negative psychological impact that the death penalty had on children and other family members of those sentenced to death. States should render more accessible and transparent the process of clemency pleas for the families and victims of the death penalty. 40. It was also emphasized that, according to some research, the use of the death penalty had major negative effects on other individuals, including on lawyers who defended the condemned person, prison officials in charge of death-row prisoners, and families of victims of crimes. For instance, prison officials in death-row quarters suffered long-term trauma, lawyers of executed persons suffered from depression and children of parents sentenced to death also suffered trauma. 41. With regard to executions of mothers of young children, experts referred to article 30 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child that prohibited death sentences for mothers of infants and young children. 8 General comment 1 to the Charter clarified that States parties should not evade their commitment not to sentence pregnant women to death simply by waiting until after they had given birth.9 G. Ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 42. Several delegations stressed the importance of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, and called for its ratification. As at March 2015, the Protocol had been ratified by 81 States. It was emphasized that increased ratification of or accession to the Protocol was needed to advance the universal abolition of the death penalty. It was pointed out that the Russian Federation was considering acceding to the Protocol. 8 9 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (OAU Doc. CAB/LEG/24.9/49 (1990), entered into force on 29 November 1999), art. 30 (e). African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, General Comment on Article 30 of the African Charter on on the Rights and Welfare of the Child), para. 56, available from www.refworld.org/pdfid/545b49844.pdf. 11