21/09/2016 (Agence Europe) – Togo's official accession to the 1989 Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the abolition of the death penalty on 14 September has been hailed by the European Union as "a welcome step". A spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) says in a press release that by acceding to this protocol, "Togo reinforces the global trend towards the abolition of the capital punishment, by becoming the 82nd state party to this important treaty. Togo's accession should encourage other countries to follow this example and also marks the remarkable abolitionist trend in Africa, as part of which many countries have done away with the death penalty in law or practice". (AN)