The Japan Federation of Bar Associations agreed Friday to draft guidelines for legislation to place a moratorium on executions to provide an opportunity for public debate on the matter.
It is the first time the lawyers' group has presented a clear, unified position on the controversial issue, as attorneys have been divided regarding capital punishment. The group said it would begin lobbying the government and Diet lawmakers to enact such a law.
Federation officials said the decision came in response to an agreement by members that the death penalty should not be allowed to continue, given an insufficient amount of public discussion on the issue, inadequate measures to prevent false accusations, and a lack of objective evidence showing whether it actually serves as a crime deterrent.